The Lived Experiences of Women With Different Somatotypes On Public Transportation: A Phenomenological Study

THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN WITH DIFFERENT SOMATOTYPES ON
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY
Combate, Caitlyn Guia C.
Paz, Bea Nadine Y.
Reyes, Lhea Angelic A.
Tiongco, Nikki C.
Torres, Francine Gem
April 2017
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ABSTRACT
This qualitative phenomenological study focuses on the experiences of women ranging

from 18-24 years old with different somatotypes on public transportation and is
conducted to attain the objectives which are: 1) describe the experiences of women with
different somatotypes on public transportations; 2) explain how women of different
somatotypes dealt with their experiences on public transportations; 3) identify how
women of different somatotypes perceive themselves as commuters; and 4) determine
if there are differences between the public transportation experiences of women with
different somatotypes. Through purposive sampling, nine participants, three for each
somatotype, are determined. They undergo photoscopic method to determine their
somatotypes and are therefore interviewed with an eight open-ended questionnaire
prepared by the researchers. The data are transcribed, and the results are analyzed
thereafter. Moreover, the results show that women experience a lot on public
transportation. Some of these experiences were inconveniences that are caused by
external considerations and the others had experienced sexual harassment. To deal
with these experiences, some fight for themselves and many stayed silent. Furthermore,
many of them consider themselves responsible and at fault of what they are
experiencing on public transportation. Lastly, all the ectomorphs encounter different
types sexual harassment while only a part of the mesomorphs and endomorphs do and
they are mostly implicit. In conclusion, somatotype causes women to have different
experiences on public transportation.
Keywords: somatotypes, public transportation, women experiences, inconveniences,
sexual harassment
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The researchers would like to express their gratitude to:
Ms. Julie Ann Enchano, the research teacher who constantly gave support and
exerted effort to help the researchers not just from the beginning but until the completion
of this research paper, and the person who performed more than what her job required;
The panelists, who critiqued for the development of every chapter of this paper
which had made it what it was at present;
The participants, for trusting that their identity would be confidential, for giving
honest answers, and for being more than willing to participate;
Ms. Jelanie Travisonda, class adviser, who trusted and supported the researchers
throughout the process of the study;
Ms. Geraldine Dimaculangan, Senior High School coordinator, who approved the
study and let the researchers share their ideas and perspective by conducting the study;
Ms. Lerma Calingasan, High School Principal who supervised the process of the
study;
The researchers’ classmates, who provided a productive and happy atmosphere
which made the struggle become easier to surpass as they were around; and
To the researchers’ parents, who displayed full support and assistance to them for
the accomplishment of this study.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
TITLE PAGE 1
ABSTRACT 2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS 4
LIST OF FIGURES 6
CHAPTER
1 INTRODUCTION 7
Background of the Study 7
Research Objectives 9
Significance of the Study 9
Scope and Delimitation 10
2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 11
Women: History, Roles, and Experiences 12
Public Transportation 16
Somatotype: Origin, Definition, Typologies, and Measurement 18
Proposed Original Model 22
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Page
3 METHOD 23
Research Design 23
Participants of the Study 23
Gathering Tool 24
Data Gathering Procedure 24
Ethical Consideration 26
Data Analysis 26
4 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 27
Demographics 27
Somatotype 27
Experiences of Women with Different Somatotype on Public Transportation 32
Dealing with These Public Transportation Experiences 40
Factors Affecting These Public Transportation Experiences 44
5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 50
Conclusions 50
Recommendations 52
REFERENCES 53
APPENDICES 60
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LIST OF FIGURES
Page
Figure 1. Lived Experiences of Women with Different 22
Somatotypes on Public Transportation
Figure 2. Participant 1: Endomorph 27
Figure 3. Participant 2: Mesomorph 28
Figure 4. Participant 3: Ectomorph 28
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Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Transportation systems aid the people in reaching their everyday destinations.
Public transportation systems, especially, play a significant role for people who cannot
drive, involving those without access to private vehicles, children, persons with a
disability, and the elderly. (“Public Transportation System,” 2016).
However, according to Kalms and Korsmeyer (2017), gender makes a world of
difference for safety on public transport, for “urban environments are not gender-neutral.”
They added that women are more likely to encounter different systems of public transport
as they need to move around more destinations than men. Moreover, this gender
inequality in transport use unlocks additional issues. This involves a disproportionate fear
of mistreatment in public transportation spaces for female commuters. Many may argue
that negative experiences are not the only ones present while using public transportation,
but Paddison (2017) disclosed that harassment and physical abuse are averting women
around the world from safe usage of public transportation. Also, even if data on women’s
transport experiences is limited, a considerable amount of studies note that abuse and
harassment on public transportation are not near peculiar. In addition, there is little to no
studies that present women’s public transport experiences which are positive and safe.
In the survey conducted by Social Weather Stations as part of UN Women’s Safe
Cities Metro Manila Program in 2016, 88% of Filipino women who are 18 to 24 years old
have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime. Furthermore, “these circumstances
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are classified into: wolf whistling, lascivious language, stalking, voyeurism, groping,
rubbing or touching, catcalling, indecent gestures, exhibitionism, and public masturbation,
sending of pornographic pictures or videos, and cyberviolence.” (Cabral, 2016).
One of the factors that may affect women’s experiences in public transportation is
somatotype. Somatotype, in layman’s terms, is the human body shape and physique type.
This term is used in the system of classification of human physical types developed by
psychologist William H. Sheldon. In his system, people can be classified as endomorphic,
who are rounded and pulpy; mesomorphic, who are square in shape and are muscular;
and ectomorphic, who are slender and fine-boned.
This system created by Sheldon is used in associating physiology with psychology.
It was primarily used by him in explaining delinquent behavior. It has then been used by
other researchers to describe criminal patterns and behavior such as the study of
Soomro, et al. (2016) about factors which are linked to inmates’ delinquent behavior in
Pakistan. Moreover, somatotype can be measured through anthropometry that
Subramanian (2016) explained which can be solved through 10 measurements that come
in a set. This method includes measuring of height, weight, four skinfolds, two epicondylar
breadths, and two girths. The Heath-Carter method can also be used to measure
somatotypes. Topend Sports (n.d.) stated that this method uses measurements which
are anthropometrical and may sometimes be used in correspondence with photos
(photoscopic method).
While Llenares and Deocaris (2014) focus on “women of science” and the
predictors that affected their entry in the said field, the researchers of the current study
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address women who are commuters in the Philippines and their experiences in its public
transportation.
Research Objectives
This study aims to:
1. Describe the experiences of women with different body types on public

transportation;
2. Explain how women of different somatotypes deal with their experiences on

public transport;
3. Identify the factors that may have affected their experiences in public
transportation; and
4. Determine if there is a difference between the experiences of women with

different somatotypes on public transport.
Significance of the Study
To women of different somatotypes in public transport, this study may help them
become aware of fellow women’s experiences and may help them know how to deal with
those experiences.
To the institution, this study may be a helping hand in promoting programs or
seminars that tackle how situations should be handled regards cases in public
transportation.
To the Philippines’ House of Representatives and Office of the President, this
study may drive the offices in approving and passing the Senate Bill 1326 or the Safe
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Streets and Public Spaces Act of 2017 that penalizes any form of street harassment
towards Filipino women. (Elemia, C., 2018).
To the researchers, this study may ameliorate their analytical skills and help them
be more capable as researchers of the 21st century.
To the future researchers, this study may serve as a premise that could provide
more information in the process of conducting their study that is related to the topic.
To the existing body of knowledge, this study may serve as a foundational study
in terms of the experiences of women with different somatotypes in public transportation.
Scope and Delimitation
This study focuses on the experiences of female students and staffs of Lyceum of
the Philippines-Laguna with different somatotypes in public transportation. It discusses
what these women’s encounters are in using public transportation. Also, it tackles how
they handle and deal with certain situations on public transport and if their somatotype
affects how they see themselves as commuters. The participants of this study are limited
to female students and staffs of Lyceum of the Philippines - Laguna who use public
transportation daily and who are within the range of 18-24 years old. Additionally, there
will be three participants for each of the three somatotypes (ectomorph, endomorph, and
mesomorph). The researchers will use photoscopic method to measure the participants’
somatotypes as introduced by Carter (2002) as a method that uses anthropometric
correspondence.
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CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
This chapter is a collection of the available literature which encompasses
concepts, terminologies, evidence, and other information that are parallel to the topic the
researchers are working on. This is composed of subtopics that may aid the researchers
and the readers to a systematic understanding of the focal points of the study.
Woman: History, Roles, and Experiences
Before the start of the 12th century, the first usage of the word ‘woman’ transpired.
Its origin points to an Old English term, ‘wīfman’, which is from wife + man. (Merriam-
Webster Online, n.d.)
In the last 100-300 years, the changes that women witnessed and affected are not
far from phenomenal. They have secured their roles in politics, in the labor force, and in
their household. Scaglione (2014) added that there was a time in history that women
were powerless in politics - they were not allowed to express their opinion and were not
able to cast a vote or run for a position. At present, women are even campaigning as
presidents and can express themselves about politics anywhere they go. Nowadays, the
labor force is composed of women in different positions, may it be an executive one or
not. Moreover, there have been significant changes in the roles that women play in their
household. In the past, women are dubbed ‘housewives’, or the primary caretakers of
their homes and their children while men were out of the house to make a living. Now,
breadwinners can both be men and women. The stereotypical duties that society
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assigned to women are slowly dissolving and both parents are hand in hand in the
responsibilities that come about inside and outside their homes.
However, despite these enumerated changes that women made in different fields,
it is important to note that some parts of these fields have stereotypical tasks that
prevailed. Waller (2016) stated that in today’s workplace, the disparity that can be noticed
between men and women is enormous. This conclusion is from the study conducted by
LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Co. on working women. They gathered information on
promotions, attrition, and career outcomes from 132 global companies, and carried out a
survey on 34,000 men and women employees regarding their experiences at work. The
results show that disparity begins at the entry level where men are 30% more likely to be
promoted to management positions than women. Additionally, 46% of the entry-level
group is made up of women. Waller (2016) added that less than half of the women
employees feel that promotions are granted objectively or that the supreme opportunities
are given to the deserving ones. Moreover, even more are convinced that their gender
will make it difficult for them to advance in the future - a belief most strongly held on to by
women at senior levels. Likewise, an analysis by Turban, Freeman, and Waber (2017)
shows that the dissimilarity in promotion rates between men and women was not because
of how they act but because of how they were treated. This is an indication that gender
inequality in the workplace is due to bias, not behavior.
On the other hand, these are not the only circumstances that women go through
at workplaces. Saavedra, Araújo, de Oliveira, and Stephens (2014) stated that women
come face to face with significant walls adapting to the professional culture of engineers.
In their study, they investigated female Portuguese engineers – how they negotiate their
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identities and subjective positions in an environment that requires forming relationships
and is marked by masculinity. With 39 female engineers, an interview was conducted that
focused on the ways women position themselves in this culture that is professional and
cope with the gender regimes that they undergo in this setting. Essentialist and
dichotomous discourse were identified that revolves around what it is to be a man or a
woman in the field of engineering through Foucauldian Discourse Analysis. “Disguising
differences with similarities, assuming differences by valuing femininity, assuming
differences and inequalities, and maintaining limits and respect” are the four themes that
were also identified. The participants seemed to be imprisoned in “transparent and
unbreakable glass walls,” which puts their personal and relational well-being at risk.
Furthermore, a significant number of laboratory experiments has provided a new
potential reason for gender inequalities in the workplace: men are more into competition
than women. Flory, Leibbrandt, and List (2015) examined this reason wanting to know
whether, and to what extent, gender dissimilarity in attitudes toward competition brings
them to dissimilarities in the workplace. They conducted a natural field experiment on job-
entry decisions where 9000 people who are looking for a job were put randomly in various
compensation regimes. They found out that women disproportionately turn away from
labor settings which are competitive. However, there are important factors to be
considered that emphasize gender differences which include whether the job is a
collaborative one, whether the job has undisguised gender associations and their age.
They also concluded that the effect is mostly noticed in labor markets with employment
options that are appealing. Moreover, their results imply that preferences over uncertainty
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can be just as fundamental as preferences over the competition that drives job-entry
decisions.
In the household context, women whose mothers have jobs outside the home are
more likely to have jobs themselves, are more likely to be in supervisory responsibility at
those jobs and earn wages which are higher than women whose mothers stayed home
full time, Nobel (2015) stated.
Health News (2008), addressing another issue in the same context, stated that
women are having a difficult time living with extended family, a study on Japanese adults
implies. This study has 91,000 middle-aged and older adults that it followed, and it
concluded that women who shared the same roof with their spouse, children, and parents
or parent-in-law were at a high risk of developing heart diseases. Twice the risk of heart
disease can be encountered by women who lived with their spouse and children than
women who lived with their spouse alone.
Going to a modern society with the younger generation as students, social
extraversion and anxiety influenced Taiwanese female university students’ mobile phone
addiction positively in a study by Hong, Chiu, and Huang (2012). Additionally, mobile
phone usage behavior exhibited helpful predictive effects caused by mobile phone
addiction. These results showed that personal psychological characteristics of females
who are diagnosed with mobile phone addiction will call and text more than normal.
Additionally, secure attachment to parents has positive associations with forming
a friendship between female university freshmen without difficulty. This result is the same
between the White participants from a minority group who are from 18 to 20 years old.
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However, indirect effects of parental attachment security on the relationship that emerges
through social anxiety were significant for minority participants but not for white
participants that shows an inequality between the respondents. (Parade, Leerkes, and
Blankson, 2009)
In addition to that, a literature review and a national online survey of 2,058 women
students’ experiences of harassment, financial manipulation, manipulation over their
course and school choices, stalking, violence, and sexual assault were conducted. This
study of Smith (2010) shows that a great number of female students encounter low-level
harassment and invasive behavior every day.
On a bigger lens, Sideris, Bornstein, Fink, Gerami, and Samuels (2009) has a
study with clear results that women feel unsafe in numerous public places, is about the
connection of women’s fear and their built environment which often include transportation
environments. Park-and-ride lots and parking structures that are dimly lit, desolate bus
stops and train cars, and also overcrowded transit vehicles represent difficult settings for
women, who frequently feel forced to change their transportation means and travel
pattern to avoid them. The fears and concerns of transit passengers about safety
influence women’s travel decisions as shown in past studies.
Equally important, 63% of females who are 13-21 years old encounter (or know
someone who has) not being in the walls of safety walking home alone, as shown in the
Girls Attitude Survey 2018, In addition, girls feel less safe virtually than they did five years
ago-25% had threatening remarks told to them on social media in comparison to 21% in
2013 and 24% has received photos or content that are disturbing compared with 17% in
2013. Recently, Slater and Gordon show that last year alone, four out of ten women have
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been sexually harassed in their workplace showing that the #MeToo campaign is not
conformed to.
Public Transportation
Traveling from one place to another is an activity that no man can avoid. Because
of this fact, transportation systems are created. Transportation systems have become a
necessity in the lives of everybody that helps them in reaching their preferred
destinations. Public transportations systems, particularly, has an important role to play for
people who are unable to drive, involving those who do not have private vehicles, children,
persons with a disability, and the elderly, as stated in Public Transportation System
(2018).
Attributes of the manmade environment can influence active participation in
transport, encompassing the use of public transportation. The study by Zwald, Hipp,
Corseuil, and Dodson (2014) focused on the correlation between perceptions of the built
environment. Their aims were to identify the relationship of personal characteristics and
use of public transportation with meeting national suggestions for medium physical
activity by walking for transportation and to assess the correlation between personal and
perceived environmental factors and how frequent their use of public transportation is. In
conclusion, people who used public transportation at least once in the previous week
were more likely to meet moderate physical activity recommendations by walking for
transportation. Age and employment were significantly associated with public
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transportation use. Lastly, the perception of high traffic speed and high crime were
negatively associated with public transportation use.
In the Philippines, jeepneys are one of the most common modes of public
transportation for several years. For that reason, modern jeepneys are deployed one step
at a time. The Bureau of Standards has environmental and product standards that the
modern jeepney complies with. This jeepney has doors on its side instead of its rear. It
also has a ceiling that is higher which makes it more convenient for standing passengers,
also for better carrying capacity. Emergency exits are mandatory and for disabled
passengers, a number of units will have special equipment for them. It will also be paired
with WiFi, GPS, CCTVs, dash camera, speed limiter, and a fare collection system that is
automated, Tadeo (2017) reported. Additionally, the modern jeepney, conforming to the
Clean Air Act of 1999, will either have a Euro-4 amenable emission system or an electric-
powered motor that will induce less pollution or none at all. Supervised by Tugade, the
DOTr plans to replace all public utility vehicles that are 15 years or more in age. Tugade
is persuading operators and drivers to be open to change and open their arms to the PUV
modernization. He also assured that there are financing schemes that will not hurt their
pockets which will help them pay for the modern jeepneys.
Evidently, the advancement of technology has brought ride-hailing applications
that can also be for people who do not want to be stuck in more traffic. Valdez (2017)
stated that Transport Network Companies, or TNCs, provides services that enable the
commuters to use their smartphones to get a ride, to be picked from a certain location, to
travel from one place to another, and pay an amount that is reasonable enough for the
service rendered. However, “The Philippine market was unwelcoming,” Valdez quoted
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Grab country head, Brian P. Cu. The government also said that it still has a lot of
knowledge to gain about the service and its technology to properly regulate it.
Somatotype: Origin, Definition, Typologies, and Measurement
One of the biological theories of criminology is somatotype theory. Somatotype
theory is deemed to be included in the biological school of criminology. Also, it relates
distinguishing body types to personality characteristics and relates criminal behavior to
the body types. The three basic body types are endomorph, mesomorph, and ectomorph
which were established by William Sheldon. To define, somatotyping is the method of
categorizing people into types in accordance with their body build. (Morin, 2014).
Moreover, somatotyping came from Sheldon’s study of “nude postural photos” that
were taken at Ivy League schools from 1890 to the late 1960s. His studies and exposure
to anthropometry and the belief that body type can be used as part of a holistic and
cohesive system of physical, mental, and spiritual health. Far back in the 1890s until the
late 1960s, Ivy League universities launched a practice of taking full-length side, front,
and back view nude photographs of incoming freshmen, both male and female. These
images were called posture photos for the reason that bad posture and being weak in the
physical aspect were seen as unfortunate side effects of a rapidly industrializing society
in the 1800s. Eventually, the science of anthropometry jumped into fame. Anthropometry
is a system of examining various body measurements as indicators of not only health
status, but also intellect and elements of character. Sheldon was also influenced by
eugenics – the idea that people who have “good genetics” should procreate with each
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other, and people who has bad genetics should not procreate at all. His motivation for
somatotyping was driven by the belief that modern medicine had opened an opportunity
for people who have bad genetics to reproduce and dilute the society’s genetic pool.
Simply put, he was racially motivated, and he was famous throughout his career for being
overtly racist. (Juan and Cortes, 2014).
Ectomorphs fit the category of fashion models and basketball players, because of
their characteristics of having a long, and lean, with the little bodily fat, and petite muscle
that their having a hard time to gain weight, at the same time some of us love to hate their
genetically-blessed featured of individuals, some male despite having ectomorphs no
longer thrilled with their narrow-chested figure, and some female ectomorphs longing for
having more womanly curves. (The 3 somatotypes, n.d.).
On the other hand, Mackenzie (2001) described an endomorphic as showing a
characteristic of having short arms and legs that can lift a heavy weight of hampers that
can use their capability to compete in sports that require the agility of high speed and also
to perform and linger weight-bearing aerobic activities such as running. The sport that fits
for an endomorph is powerlifting that applying full strength that this body type can easily
gain weight and also, they quickly lose condition once they stop training their body.
Lastly, mesomorphs are good in sports, are strong, and are solid. They are not
overweight nor are they underweight. They can also eat without worries and much
thought. Additionally, they can gain and lose weight without exerting too much effort.
Strength, agility, and speed are what a mesomorphic individual excels in. Their medium
physique and height, along with their capacity to gain muscle and strength without much
effort make them a strong candidate to be a top athlete of any sport. On top of that, they
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can maintain low body fat levels and, emphasizing, they find no difficulty in losing or
gaining weight. (The 3 somatotypes, n.d.; Mackenzie, 2001).
To add, Subramanian (2016) defined somatotyping as a mechanism that explains
the human body in terms of a number of characteristics that relate to body shape and
composition. Athletes have a total difference from one another on selected sports. It is
also used to describe physical changes through growth, aging, and training that relate to
physical performance. It gives more information than other typical measurements of a
body composition of such bodily fat percentage and body mass that can be useful to
determine what types of sports can be suitable for an individual. The anthropometric
somatotypes can be solved through a set of 10 measurements which are height, weight,
four skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, supraspinal, and medial calf), two epicondylar
breadths (humerus and femur), and two girths (upper arm, flexed and tensed, and calf).
Another measurement that can be used for somatotyping is the Heath-Carter Method.
Topend Sports (n.d.) defined Heath-Carter Method as one that uses various
anthropometrical measurements and may sometimes be in conjunction with standardized
photos (photoscopic method) to calculate ratings for ectomorphy, endomorphy, and
mesomorphy. In each of the three somatotypes, someone can be generally classified on
a scale of 1 to 7, but higher ratings can be possible, and you cannot score highly on all
three. The three numbers combined provide a somatotype number – endomorphy is the
first digit, then mesomorphy and ectomorphy are the second and third digits, respectively.
The scores can be shown through and be plotted in a shield diagram, or also known as a
somatograph, that represents the somatotype on a two-dimensional scale.
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Women’s responsibilities and capabilities were once generalized to a ‘housewife’
or an individual who should only work and stay inside the house. Through several
movements and protests, women have gained the same rights as men. They began to
have jobs outside their houses, run for a political position, and vote for a leader whom
they think deserving and capable. Despite these changes, women are still experiencing
inequalities that hinder their growth as an individual and as a member of society. These
inequalities may happen to them as members of the labor force, as members of a
household, as students, or as people who move through public places - and this moving
in and out of public places require transportation. For those who do not have access to a
private vehicle, or are becoming unable to drive because of age, they resort to public
transportation systems. Due to modernization and technological advancement, public
transportation systems have evolved through centuries. Public transportation can already
be called a necessity that, on the other hand, may entail different experiences that may
be positive or negative ones. These women experiences are affected by different possible
factors and one of them is somatotype. Somatotype is founded by William Sheldon that
classifies people in three categories – ectomorphs or the long and lean ones and have
little body fat and petite muscles, endomorphs or the short ones and have the most
muscles of the three, but are having difficulties gaining them, and mesomorphs or the
muscular ones who can lose or gain weight without difficulty. These somatotypes can be
measured through anthropometry, Heath-Carter method, and photoscopic method.
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Proposed Original Model
Ectomorphs
Actions of Fellow Lived Experiences
Commuters of Women with
Towards Women of Endomorphs Different
Different Somatotypes in
Somatotypes Public
Mesomorphs Transportation
Figure 1. Lived Experiences of Women with Different Somatotypes in Public
Transportation
The use of public transportation has become a necessity that only those who have
access to private vehicles can avoid. This fact, however, may entail experiences which
are different for men and women as Kalms and Korsmeyer (2017) suggest as “urban
environments are not gender-neutral.” One of the factors that may significantly affect
these experiences is somatotypes. The actions of commuters towards fellow women
commuters may have been affected by the three somatotypes that may cause a variety
of experiences these women may encounter. With that said, these concepts may
eventually lead to the experiences of women in public transportation.
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Chapter 3
METHOD
This part describes the research design, respondents of the study, gathering tool
used, data gathering procedure, ethical considerations observed, and data analysis
applied.
Research Design
This study was qualitative in nature, for it revolved around the lived experiences of
15 women commuters (five ectomorphs, five endomorphs, and five mesomorphs).
Additionally, this was a phenomenological study about the experiences of women who
were using public transportation in the Philippines who moved around and about public
utility vehicles. Furthermore, this study specifically discussed what women commuters
with different somatotypes went through every time they use public transportation
systems in the Philippines.
Participants of the Study
The participants were women from Lyceum of the Philippines – Laguna who were
from any department and were ranging from 18-24 years old. They were chosen through
purposive sampling that complied with criteria which included moving around public
spaces by commuting and having one of the three somatotypes. There were five
participants for each of the three somatotypes (ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph).
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To assess the respondents’ somatotypes, Carter (2002) explained photoscopic method
as one of the many methods to discover one’s somatotype. It was used to determine
one’s somatotype through full body pictures of poses from the front, side, and rear.
Anthropometric correspondence aided the assessment of somatotype through
photoscopic method. With this method, fifteen respondents were selected in total.
Gathering Tool
The researchers developed a questionnaire to collect the data necessary for the
completion of the study. The questionnaire was comprised of eight (tentative) open-ended
questions that asked specifics about how the respondents were treated in public
transportation, how they dealt with it, and how they felt about it. It was not adopted from
an existing instrument and was based on the related literature gathered by the
researchers. The research objectives also served as a guide on how the researchers
formed the questionnaire. For a convenient storing of the participants’ responses, a
cellphone recorder was used. This was an efficient way to save time, memory, and effort
to be able to keep and analyze the data appropriately and effectively. A digital camera
was also used to take full body pictures of the participants which was also consensual.
Data Gathering Procedure
The respondents of the study were women from Lyceum of the Philippines –
Laguna who are 18-24 years old with different somatotypes who used public
transportation and were chosen through purposive sampling. Five women for each
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somatotype were chosen, which makes a total of 15 respondents. Initially, the
researchers approached and conversed with the participants who were only selected
through observation. A brief description of what the study was all about was explained to
the participants-to-be. Once the participants agreed to take part in the study, as
everything should be consensual, a consent form was given to them mentioning the
conditions of having their pictures taken, having their somatotypes determined, recording
their responses to the interview, and sharing the data gathered with the group of
researchers only. The consent form also informed the participants of the non-disclosure
policy which all the researchers signed. During the signing of the consent form,
somatotype testing and interview was scheduled by the preference of the participants but
taking the deadline into consideration. On the scheduled date, applying photoscopic
method that Carter (2002) defined as a method that required taking full body photos with
views from the rear, front, and side of the respondents and using anthropometric
correspondence, the researchers were able to determine the participants’ somatotype.
Moreover, for the data collection, the researchers used the open-ended questionnaire in
their interview to collect the data needed in the study. The interview and the taking of
pictures took place consecutively in an isolated area of their choice and was around the
vicinity only. The guide questions were utilized throughout the interview and cellphone
recorder was working during the process. After the interview and the picture taking, a
simple token of appreciation was given in the form of food. Finally, the responses were
transcribed and were analyzed through thematic analysis that aimed to identify themes
and patterns to address the issues discussed in the study. (Maguire and Delahunt, 2017).
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Ethical Consideration
The researchers did not disclose any information that the participants did not
consent to. The personal information that was present during the process of data
gathering was not opened up to anyone but the group of the researchers. Thus, data
privacy was observed. Additionally, the study involved psychological and physical
implications that required trust and data privacy to be implemented. The information was
obtained through signed consent that asked permission for the participants’ answers to
be recorded with a cellphone recorder and to be analyzed by the group of researchers,
and was not collected through any violence, abuse, or threatening towards the selected
respondents.
Data Analysis
Once the data was gathered and stored as audio files, the researchers then
transcribed it. Next, the responses were analyzed through thematic analysis. Thematic
analysis, as explained by Komori (n.d.) was used to attain insight and meanings from the
information which was gathered. By using thematic analysis, the researchers determined
broad and general patterns that led them to administer a more in-depth and specific
analysis. Patterns among the concepts were found and a summary was developed. Once
summarized, the researchers then made sense of those patterns in detail.
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Chapter 4
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
Demographics
The participants of this study were women who were aged 18-24 years old. They
were women around Laguna who were using public transportation. They were classified
into three different somatotypes: ectomorph, endomorph, and mesomorph. For each
somatotype, there were three participants.
Somatotype
Figure 2. Participant 1: Endomorph
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Figure 3. Participant 2: Mesomorph
Figure 4. Participant 3: Ectomorph
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As people need to move to and from different places every day, transportation had
become a necessity in their lives. Those who did not have access to private vehicles
resorted to using public transportation. Kalms and Korsmeyer (2017) stated that due to
gender inequalities, a series of additional concerns had caused women to feel unsafe
when they were using public transportation. However, women were often compromised
because of the gender inequalities that were existing in the society until today, and their
experiences were what this study had its focus on.
Additionally, in the Mexican film, Rush Hour, commuting was defined as “a form of
violence.” It emphasized how in some Mexico City neighborhoods, commuting carried a
great amount of risk degree for women, not only for robbery but also sexual harassment,
Lorenzen (2018) reported.
Experiences of Women with Different Somatotypes on Public Transportation
External Considerations on Public Transportation
Women commuters experienced inconvenience in using public transportation.
Some of them experienced difficulty in breathing because of the heat or high
temperatures while riding a jeepney, and others were because there were instances that
it was overcrowded inside a bus. Moreover, a study by Stover and McCormack (2012)
concluded that one of the factors to negative experiences in public transport were adverse
weather conditions.
Crowding on public transportation was also a major concern for people who were
commuting around the world, as stated by Haywood, Koning, and Monchambert (2017).
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According to them, the discomfort which was felt by the commuters who were in
congested public transport vehicles was caused by the dissatisfaction when they were
not able to sit or were standing, when they had fewer opportunities to utilize the time of
their travel, and when they encountered close physical proximity between passengers.
“It is difficult to use public transportation because it is hot and I am not used to commute
when the temperature is high as there are times I experience difficulty in breathing,”
- Participant 1: Endomorph
“When I am riding the bus, I experienced something, like, I really cannot breathe
because there are too many passengers, the bus is congested, and I am already beside
the bus’ door. I was face to face with the glass. Luckily, I always bring a paper bag,
because I have a history of hyperventilation, so my parents always ask me to bring one
and I obeyed them. I brought out my paper bag, and I used it.”
– Participant 4: Mesomorph
Also, commuting during rush hours was difficult for women commuters especially
when they were wearing skirts or when they had a lot of things to bring with them. This
was because they could not move freely when they were wearing skirts. Also, they were
pushing themselves to carry bags of heavy weight because those were necessary for
their endeavors.
Pia Zari, a Quora user, uploaded a post which says, “I know it doesn’t sound like
a big deal to see a girl wearing a pencil skirt. However, in my experience, it does. I was
once wearing pencil skirt to work. Little did I know that it would somehow bring me
trouble,” Sole (n.d.) reported. Zari stated how many eyes were always on her, especially
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her ass when she was wearing pencil skirts. Her co-workers also dubbed her as being
seductive and sexy. She was unaware if that can be considered harassment as she did
not feel any discomfort with it. On the contrary, when she was in a comfort room cubicle,
she ended up crying realizing how she could not even wear a pencil skirt without
comments from those people.
“Sometimes, for example, I am wearing pants during Fridays, we are wearing org shirt
and P.E., commuting is convenient and is okay to me. However, it is difficult because
when I am wearing skirt, and commuting is a hassle, because [sic], of course, the seats
in the jeepney, sometimes, as I am wearing a pencil skirt.”
– Participant 7: Endomorph
“Commuting is convenient, somehow, but then, at some point, there is something I get
irritated about. You know the seat in a tricycle, the one inside, the small one. [sic] The
driver is forcing you to take that seat so he can go. I really do not want to sit there
because it is hard. I am bringing my bag, and it is jammed, and my fellow passengers’
built is big, so I am struggling.”
– Participant 6: Ectomorph
“For me, commuting is difficult, depending on the time. Like, for example, rush hour, that
is when it gets difficult because there are many passengers. Especially if you came from
(local mall), you are going home, right? Your uniform is too short. It is difficult.”
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Participant 4, a mesomorph, experienced to sit with only a little part of her butt on
the seat and had no choice than to stand beside the bus doors because of congested
passengers inside the bus. Additionally, participant 9, another mesomorph, and
participant 6, an ectomorph, who were forced to take the charity seat in a tricycle,
encountered inconveniences at times when they have a lot of things to bring with them or
when other passengers otherwise.
“I can still remember when I rode the jeepney once to go home. I was in a rush then
because my mom said that go home immediately because it is already night time, so
when I saw a jeepney, I got on. And the driver said that I can still get on, then when I
looked at the seats, as in, there really is no space. There is space, but I will not fit.
Then, I slightly sat. During the ride, my legs gave up and I cannot keep sitting anymore.
What I did was, [sic] I was in the middle of the jeepney with both my hands holding on to
the bar handle.”
Women commuters were worried to ride a bus with congested passengers on it,
knowing that proximity would not be too great and sometimes there were no vacant seats
left, causing them to stand throughout their ride. If someone offered them a seat, they
would be willing to accept it. Moreover, women commuters prioritized their security on
public transportation. Once they took their first step on a public utility vehicle, they took
their security as a priority. Whenever they would be commuting, they always felt the need
to be cautious of their surroundings. Some of them would try to avoid sleeping just to
secure the safety of their belongings.
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“Whenever I am commuting, I always think that I should always be cautious of my
surroundings. I need to be careful. The person I should sit beside with should be one
who does not look like he or she will do anything bad to me, um, I should not fall
asleep.”
“What is on my mind when I am commuting is where I will sit because, sometimes, it
depends on what I am wearing as it is difficult when I am wearing a skirt and will occupy
the charity seat, or when the jeep is already crowded, it is hard to look for a seat. I will
not fit.”
Being the only woman in a jeepney left at night mad the commuters feel unsafe
and they would ask a family member to fetch them which they did not usually do.
Furthermore, the participants carefully chose whom they are going to sit with in a PUV.
As much as possible, they tried to sit with a person of the same sex and avoid sitting
beside or in between males as they thought that males were the ones who committed
robbery more often than females. Moreover, the statistics of the American Law and Legal
Information presented that females were shown to have lower arrest rates than males in
all crimes except prostitution, virtually. In addition, females even had a lower
representation in terms of serious crimes than males did.
“Yes, I experienced going home late and one time, I was scared because there was no
one else inside the jeepney but me and the driver who is a male and his companion
who is also a male. Not to judge them, but, of course, I was scared for myself because I
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was the only one riding the jeepney. I got off safely, but I asked a family member to
fetch me on the gate of our subdivision, which I do not usually do. I was just scared
because I was alone, and it was night time.”
Harassment on Public Transportation
Some women commuters felt that they are being harassed in public transportation
by their fellow commuters. Canadian Human Rights Commission defined harassment as
“a form of discrimination.” Any unwanted physical or verbal behavior that was offending
or humiliating to someone was harassment. Though harassment often persisted over
time, serious one-time incidents could be considered harassment. Last August 2017, Plan
International and Monash University collaborated and asked women around Melbourne
to map where they did not feel safe while using the city’s public transportation for travel.
The map presented 417 locations where negative experiences were encountered by
women and there were only 162 locations where women had positive feelings in riding a
bus, a train, or a tram. Thus, there were more locations and more negative experiences
that women underwent than positive ones.
Participant 6, an ectomorph, experienced during her ride on a bus from a city that
a fellow male commuter was intentionally hitting his side on her chest. She said that one
could sense if he is doing it intentionally or not because it happened several times already.
“I remember one time, um, I was living in a dorm and was still studying, in the bus, it
was full with passengers, so I was standing during the ride. Because I was standing and
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the bus was congested, the tendency was, like, you know, of course, my chest is
prominent, because it the bus was congested, there are instances when some people
unconsciously hit my chest. Then, you can actually if the hit on your breasts is
intentional or not. And one time, I really felt, ‘Sh*t, this one’s intentionally hitting my
chest,’ as he is doing it a lot of times.”
Another commuter, Participant 8 who was an ectomorph, as well, who was usually
taking the front seat of the jeepney, told her experiences when she sat beside the driver’s
seat. One of them was when she was about to get off the jeepney, the man sitting beside
her touched her waist, saying that he was only helping. However, she thought that she
was not really in need of help to get off the jeepney. The participant was left puzzled and
unsure if she was already harassed or not.
“The first one was, um, I sat on the front seat and a man was beside me who already
seemed like my father, yeah, like my father. Then, I got off the jeepney, while I was
getting off because he was on the side by the door, he needed to get off first. Then,
when I got off, he held my waist, which is not necessary, but for him, help, he thinks I
needed help. I did not need help, so, for me, I was, like, harassed.”
Another experience that she had also happened when she sat on the same seat.
She was the only one seating at the front seat when the driver asked her to close the car
door beside her. The driver went to the other jeepney driver and talked about her being
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the other driver’s type. She was only relieved when another commuter sat beside her
already.
“Second, I rode the jeepney at a (local mall), on the front seat again, so I was sitting
beside the driver. There was a door beside me, so [sic] he closed the door even if the
other seat was not occupied yet. There should be two passengers on the front seat,
right? Then, I heard the two drivers conversing, ‘Oh, why did you close it already? Two
people should occupy that, ah? You like teenage girls, perhaps? Oh, you like students,
right?’ They know that I can hear them, but they were not ashamed to talk about me.”
Also, there was an experience of a woman commuter during her ride on a jeepney
where she was sitting at the part of the vehicle where every passenger would pass by
that a man who got on the jeepney held on to her knee.
“One time, I think, I rode the jeep, and this guy was going to ride the jeep. Why did he
have to hold on to my knee for him to be able to get on? Then, he sat beside me, and
he did not let go of me right after.”
Another form of harassment were lewd stares that the participants experienced the
most. The participants said that they often experience this whenever they were wearing
shorts or other clothes that reveal their skin. Participant 2, who was a mesomorph,
mentioned that she felt the need to cover up every time she was commuting.
Page No. 39
“Once I step foot on any public transportation, I really have the tendency to cover up
something. Even though I know I dress decently, like that, and I just been like, [sic] what
do you call that, there really are unwanted looks sometimes.”
Furthermore, Participant 7, an endomorph, sometimes witnessed that whenever
there was a fellow woman commuter wearing shorts or other revealing clothes, the eyes
of these men commuters would follow them.
“Sometimes, I was really not the one who experienced it, I was only witnessing it. The
looks of males, especially when the girls are wearing shorts when they are getting on
and getting off. I know – I see that their gazes would follow those girls, those who are
getting off and getting on.”
Additionally, Participant 3, an ectomorph, experienced getting asked her personal
details by a middle-aged man.
“One time, I experienced that, you know, being asked for my personal information, like
number, by a passenger.”
Dealing with These Public Transportation Experiences
#MeToo movement was a “movement that deals specifically with sexual violence,”
Langone (2018) stated. Langone added that it was a framework of how people could end
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the evil of sexual violence. #MeToo emphasized giving the victims a voice. It was
encouraging women to speak about sexual violence that they had experienced – how
many of them have stayed silent and how a number of them fought for themselves. Thus,
fighting and speaking up was not the only choices that women have in the face of
harassment as fear and silence were one of these choices. This was evident in how the
participants dealt with their experiences on public transportation.
Silence Amidst Harassment
Some of the participants stood up for themselves in the face of harassment, but
others did not. When Participant 8, an ectomorph, was touched on the waist by a fellow
commuter, she did not say anything as she was doubtful if it could already be considered
harassment.
“I was not able to speak. After that, when I got off, I was silent, because I was
wondering, ‘Was I already harassed?’”
Participant 7, an endomorph, and participant 2, a mesomorph, also admitted to just
letting fellow commuters harass them or other women in the vehicle as they were afraid
of confrontation. They feared being screamed at and being at the center of attention in a
public space. They also said that one could never know what a man, whom they perceived
as strong in terms of physical strength, could do to them.
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“Yes, I was afraid of, you know, they might [sic], I was afraid of being in the hot seat. I
was afraid of being screamed at.”
“Because, of course, I am a woman, and they are men, of course, they have more
power. If ever I confront them, they might do something to me. You know, in the news,
the girls, especially at night, they are harassed on public transportation – on the
jeepneys, the taxis, by men, yes. Those are the things I want to avoid.”
“I think, for now, is [sic] ignore because I don’t really want to make a scene and involve
anyone in the situation. And I think that I am not yet ready to confront those kinds of
people.” – Participant 2: Mesomorph
“The idea that comes to my mind is, ‘Why am I this weak?’ When other people
experience it, I want to fight. I have this urgency or a strong belief that we should
confront them. We should do it. But when you are in that situation already, when you
are the one there, it’s like, the weakness, the shaking feeling in your body, it’s just
unavoidable.” – Participant 2: Mesomorph
Additionally, when Participant 3, an ectomorph, was asked for her number by a
middle-aged man on the bus, she did not resist. Instead, she gave him her fake
information as she did not want to be the bad person. She also got off the bus immediately
after even if it was not her stop yet because she was afraid the male passenger would
ask for more.
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“Just like what I said earlier, he asked for number and email address, I gave him those
information, but those are made-up ones so he would stop asking me to.”
“Like, in a way, it was scary. You know, like, if you refused to, it was, like, embarrassing,
for yourself, you would be embarrassed because I did not want to be the bad person.”
“I already got off the bus even if it was not my stop yet as I was afraid he would ask for
more, for things that should not be asked to be given by someone.”
Voice and Action towards Harassment
As lewd stares of male commuters were experienced often by the participants,
Participant 5, an endomorph, and participant 6, an ectomorph, said that they tried to make
their stare as piercing as possible and that ended the stares of these males.
“With just my gazes, I was already burning them up.”
“It is awkward at the part when others are looking at you, right? It really is awkward. It is
creepy, so the tendency, for them to feel that awkwardness, I return their stares.
Sometimes, I raise my brow at them, like that, being fierce enough.”
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When one participant experienced intentional hitting of the side of a man towards
her chest, she was not able to go away from him as the bus was jammed with passengers.
However, she used her voice and cursed loudly. Though people inside the bus had their
attention on her, the man finally stopped hitting his side on her chest.
“Because I really have that personality, I cursed at him, ‘Motherf*cker!’ and then, of
course, other passengers were shocked and shaken.”
Additionally, when one male commuter was about to get on the jeepney, he held
on to one of the participant’s knee. Uncertain of what reason it may be, she thought that
man just really needed help to get on but when he did not let go of her knee once he was
seated. She felt nervous and shoved the fellow commuter’s hand off her knee. She said
that she forgave him since he apologized for what he did.
“Next, I already stared at him that time. Then, if I did not move my leg, he might not be
able to notice it. After that, he apologized, so I thought it was already okay that time
because I was still young. I thought it was okay because, at least, he apologized.”
Factors Affecting These Public Transportation Experiences
Financial Conditions
When using public transportation, vehicles congested with passengers cannot be
avoided. The participants encountered jammed public utility vehicles often especially if
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they were commuting during rush hour. Participant 9, a mesomorph, concluded that this
might just be because the drivers really wanted to earn money, as they all had a family
who was dependent on them and had a lot of bills to pay off. Moreover, when one fellow
commuter was forcing herself to fit all of the things she bought in a PUV, was occupying
only one seat, and was causing inconvenience to the participants, they thought that it
might be because the commuter only had enough money to pay for one seat.
Gregorio (2018) reported that most jeepney drivers and motorists agreed that it
was necessary to upgrade Public Utility Vehicles in order to make them safer for drivers
and commuters, but they were disheartened and overwhelmed by the expensive amount
they had to pay for the replacement of their old jeeps. Efren Borela, a jeepney owner for
15 years, had invested into his vehicle the Php 2,500 he was earning per day. His savings
would be put to waste if he would have to buy a new one. Borela was just one of the
jeepney drivers who was having this financial condition and whom the participants
encountered might just be like him.
“Of course, we cannot judge other people, but, of course, those drivers, maybe they just
really want to earn, and we cannot deprive them of that, because you do not know what
their needs are. Who knows, they were really in need of something and they were
working hard for it.”
“When their money is exact for those kinds of things, of course, it is hard, like, like, if
you complain. What if her money is enough for one seat? She cannot pay for all of the
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seats in the tricycle for only herself to get on it.”
Clothing
Participant 4, a mesomorph, witnessed imposed chivalry because one fellow
female commuter was wearing a skirt, so the driver told the male commuter who was
already seated to give the seat to that female commuter because of her clothes.
“I do not know, but when I am wearing this, jeans or P.E., they just let me stand during
the ride like I am not their priority if passengers get off the vehicle. The ones that they
will let to be seated are those wearing skirt.”
Moreover, Participant 5, an endomorph, noticed that when they were wearing a
uniform, they were respected. However, once they were wearing casual clothes like
shorts, the looks from male commuters were different.
“When I am wearing uniform, they seem to respect me, but when I am wearing
something casual or revealing like shorts, their looks really are different.”
In addition, as the participants experienced more stares when they were wearing
clothes which revealed some skin than when they wore clothes with more cover, they
thought that their clothes played a big role on how they were treated in public
transportation. They felt the need to cover up parts of their body when they were faced
Page No. 46
with these stares. Because of this, they thought that they were the ones responsible and
were at fault for these stares. As Burnett (2018) stated in his article, the argument that
the clothes of women were an excuse for sexual assault rested on the fact that women
were capable of dressing in a way that caused men to be aroused and was faced with
the limits of their self-control. The argument also reasoned that women are the ones who
made the decision to look the way they did, and men did not have a choice but to be
aroused, so women are to be blamed.
“Partly. Of course, because that was me, eh. That was my choice. For example, in the
situation that, me, in the clothes which I chose, it was my choice to wear them even if I
am aware of the environment that really is [sic], and possible things that may happen,
negative or positive. So, yes, I think I am the one responsible.”
Patriarchy
Participant 7, an endomorph, felt that male commuters think that they have more
power than women.
“I feel like, when it comes to men, I feel like they know that, what, that they have more
power because they are men.”
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Participant 6, an ectomorph, believed that because she is in a patriarchal society,
the eyes of the people are not awake yet. She also believed that libido is one factor for
the things that she experienced.
“You know, right, I am a woman, like, and then, we are in a patriarchal society, the
mindset of the people are not opened yet, of the Filipinos, especially when they see
women who are slightly, you know, wearing sexy or short clothes. You know, the libido
of men are increasing at some point. The issue of rape, the tendency is, they are
blaming women because of their clothes.”
In the past centuries, women had witnessed and created changes which were
exceptional, Scaglione (2014) stated. However, despite these changes, some of the
inequalities remained unchanged. Thus, the inequalities that remained had affected the
experiences of these participants on public transportation.
Body Type
Participant 5, an endomorph, elaborated the difference between her experiences
when she was less curvy and when she was a lot curvier. In the past, when she was less
curvy, male commuters were throwing her sensual looks more often. On the other hand,
when she got curvier than before, she said that she felt safer as the stares happened less
often. Because of this, she said that her body type was one of the factors of how she was
treated in public transportation.
Page No. 48
“Before, because I was not this fat, like, not skinny, but not as fat as I am right now, then
before, when I was commuting, I was not fixing myself or anything, even if I was only
wearing a shirt or anything, there were people who were always staring at me. But right
now, of course, we are getting fatter, there is nobody who is looking anymore. So, by
that, we can already see that the stereotypes of people are different, especially on body
types.”
Mary Ann Cohen of The New York Center for Eating Disorders had discovered that
her patients who had been abused in the past blamed their body type for the harassment
they went through. Because of that, they binged eat and made themselves gain weight
thinking that fats would serve as protection from harassment. “Many survivors of sexual
abuse often work to become very fat or very thin in an attempt to render themselves
unattractive,” Cohen said. On the other hand, some survivors obsessively dieted or even
starved in order to make their bodies ‘perfect’ as this was their attempt to make
themselves feel more powerful or in control. (Tartakovsky, M., 2019)
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Chapter 5
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Women commuters are using public transportation more often than men. Thus,
they have more experiences in using the system. However, this fact is also paired with
experiences which can be negative or positive.
There are external considerations which are experienced by women while using
public transportation. The weather and high temperatures have caused them to
hyperventilate or have difficulty in breathing. They experience inconveniences like
jammed and congested vehicles, especially during rush hours.
Moreover, women commuters often experience harassment on buses and
jeepneys. Lewd stares are one of the most common experience which are encountered
by the participants. One participant is even asked for her personal information by a
middle-aged man. Another one had a male passenger to intentionally hit his side onto her
chest area. Additionally, one male commuter has thought that a participant was in need
of help in getting off the jeepney, so he has held onto her waist. Furthermore, she has
two drivers talk about her being the other driver’s type even if she is close enough to them
for her to be able to hear the conversation. Also, one male commuter has held on to the
female participant’s knee when he is getting on the jeepney.
Amidst these experiences, some women prefer to stay silent and to ignore. They
do not want to be the bad person, so they just let the male commuters who have harassed
them on the loose. They are also aware that men have more power than women in terms
of physical strength, so they choose to not confront them anymore.
Page No. 50
On the other hand, some women commuters choose to fight back. They return the
stares of male commuters with conviction and raise their brows at them, urging them to
stop looking. Some curse loudly to catch the attention of other people to stop the one
harassing them from doing so. They shove the hands of those who touch them off.
Behind these experiences, financial condition, clothing, patriarchy, and body type
are present. Financial condition affects how drivers and commuters choose to earn and
spend their money regarding public transport, respectively. Moreover, clothing has served
as a definition of what women are to men. Men sexually harass those women who are
wearing clothes which reveal some skin more often than those who do not on public
transportation. Additionally, patriarchy has a great impact on the treatment of fellow
commuters and drivers towards women. Imposed chivalry and libido are present in the
statements of the participants regarding their experiences on public transport. Lastly,
body type ends up as a factor to the experiences of the participants. Lesser experiences
of harassment are present on mesomorphs and endomorphs compared to those of
ectomorphs.
Differences are shown between the experiences of different somatotypes on public
transportation. Mesomorphs tend to have higher stamina for them to be able to last on
congested and jammed Public Utility Vehicles. On the other hand, ectomorphs experience
the greatest number of sexual harassment ranging from implicit, verbal, and physical
harassment.
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Recommendations
To women of different somatotypes on public transportation, may this study serve
as an eye-opener and a teacher on what the experiences of other women are and how
these experiences can be dealt with.
To the institution, may this study be a catalyst on promoting programs regarding
awareness and precautions that shall be considered when using public transportation.
To the Philippines’ Office of the President and House of Representatives, this
study may drive them to the approval of the Senate Bill 1326 or the Safe Streets and
Public Spaces Act of 2017 and may then lead to the creation of a more specific law
regarding harassment in public transportation.
To future researchers, a higher number of participants is recommended to attain
more diverse results regarding the topic.
To the existing body of knowledge, this study may serve as a foundational study
and as an addition to the few amounts of studies present in the Worldwide Web which
are related to the topic.
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excuse-for-assault
Cabral, A. (2017). The invisible ways we experience sexual harassment. Retrieved from
http://cnnphilippines.com/life/culture/2017/03/28/sexual-harassment-policies.html
Carter, J. E. L. (2002). The Heath-Carter anthropometric somatotype: Instruction manual.
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Elemia, C. (2018). Senate approves bill punishing catcalling, street harassment.
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catcalling-street-harassment
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Page No. 59
APPENDICES
Informed Consent Form
Dear participant:
Greetings!
We are Grade 12-HUMSS students of Lyceum of the Philippines-Laguna. We would like to

request for your kind assistance and cooperation in this study entitled “The Lived Experiences
of Women with Different Somatotypes in Public Transportation: A Phenomenological
Study” by being our participant through somatotype testing and interview.
The conditions for the somatotype or body type testing will use Heath-Carter’s photoscopic
method which includes picture taking with full body poses from the rear, side, and front. Also, you
will be changing into fitted clothes which we already prepared for you.
On the other hand, the interview consists of eight open-ended questions that you may find below
and may take time depending on the length of your answers. Your responses will be recorded
and will be transcribed.
There are no known risks or direct benefits to you from participating in this study. All of the study
information will be kept private. You will not be identified in any publication or presentation of the
study findings. Only group scores will be reported. All documents from this study will be kept
confidential.
Your decision whether or not to participate will not affect your current or future relations with LPU-
Laguna. If you decide to participate, you are free to withdraw at any time without affecting this
relationship. You may also choose not to answer certain interview questions. The researcher may
also choose to withdraw you from this study if it is in your best interest.
Thank you for taking the time to assist us in our educational endeavors.
Sincerely,
Caitlyn Combate Bea Nadine Paz Lhea Reyes Nikki Tiongco Gem Torres
Researcher Researcher Researcher Researcher Researcher
INFORMED CONSENT FORM

I have read and understood the provided information. I understand that my participation is
voluntary, and I am free to withdraw at any time, without giving a reason and without cost. I
understand that I will be given a copy of this consent form. By signing this consent form, I
voluntarily agree to take part in this study.
____________________ ____________
Page No. 60
Participant’s Signature Date Signed
Interview Guide Questions:

1. Do you commute?
2. How often do you commute in a week?
3. What type of public transportation do you use the most?
4. Is commuting difficult or convenient for you? Why?
5. What is on your mind every time you step foot on a public utility vehicle?
6. What are your experiences in using public transportation?
7. How did you deal with or handle those experiences?
8. Do you think there are factors that may have affected how other commuters treat you in
public transportation? If you do, what are those?
Page No. 61
Women with Different Somatotypes in Public Transportation: Interview 1
I: [reads consent form] Puwede na po ba tayong mag-start?

P: Puwede na.
I: Unang question po, um, nagko-commute po ba kayo?
P: Oo.
I: Um, gaano po kayo kadalas mag-commute sa isang linggo?
P: Araw-araw.
I: Araw-araw, tapos ano po ‘yung type ng sasakyan ‘yung madalas niyong gamitin ‘pag
nagko-commute po kayo?
P: Jeep at saka bus.
I: Jeep at bus. Tapos para sa inyo po, mahirap po bang mag-commute or madali?
P: Mahirap, kasi mainit tapos hindi ko rin, hindi rin ako sanay na nagkocommute nang
sobrang init kasi nga may times na nahihirapan ako huminga.
I: Ah, so ano po ba ‘yun? May asthma po ba kayo or something kaya po?
P: Hindi siya totally asthma pero parang hindi sa ‘kin puwedeng mainitan nang matagal.
I: Ano po ‘yung nasa isip nyo tuwing sasakay po kayo ng jeep or ng bus?
P: “Ito na naman. Mainit na naman. Kaya ko ‘to, makakarating din naman ako.”
I: Tapos ano po ‘yung mga na-experience niyo kapag nasa bus na po kayo or nasa jeep?
May mga maise-share po ba kayo?
P: Wala naman, pero kadalasan lang nangyayari sa’kin minsan na nauuntog ‘pag bababa
or ‘pag sasakay ‘ganon. [laughs]
I: Tapos ano po ginagawa nyo kapag nauuntog po kayo sa mga ganon?
P: Wala, natatawa din [sic] ako sa sarili ko at nahihiya din [sic]. Kasi minsan, nagugulat
sa akin ‘yung mga nakasakay ‘pag nauuntog ako.
I: Natatawa lang po kayo…, tapos yung ano po, um, may mga experiences po ba kayo
na yung mga katab—fellow commuters nyo po yung gumawa sainyo or wala naman po?
P: Wala naman. Ang kadalasan na nangyayari sa’kin, ginagawa nila akong unan kahit
hindi ko naman sila kilala.
I: Bakit po kaya kayo ginagawang unan?
P: Hindi siya totally unan, pero parang gano’n na nga, kasi nakaupo sa akin o ‘di kaya
naka-sandal at sarap na sarap ata [sic] sila kasi malambot ako, kasi mataba.
I: Ano pong nararamdaman niyo kapag gano’n?
Page No. 62
P: Minsan, naiirita ako lalo na ‘pag wala ako sa mood. Pero minsan, iniintindi ko na lang
kasi baka nga pagod o ‘di kaya wala silang tulog.
I: Tapos sa tingin nyo po ba may mga dahilan kung bakit ganon po yung na-experience
nyo?
P: Siguro pagod sila kaya hinahayaan ko nalang, kadalasan naman kasi matanda, kaya
sabi ko, “Sige matanda ka naman kaya edi [sic] okay lang.”
I: Ah, okay lang. Eh, pano kapag bata, wala naman-?
P: Wala din [sic] namang problema pero ayaw ko, ‘pag lalaki talagang tinatanggal ko
‘yung ulo niya sa balikat ko.
I: Bakit ayaw mong sumasandal sa’yo ‘pag lalaki? Naiilang ka ba or what?
P: Oo, naiilang ako.
I: Bakit ka naiilang?
P: Hindi kasi ako ‘yung tipo ng tao na okay lang ang dikit nang dikit sa akin. Lalo na kapag
lalaki, kasi hindi mo rin naman masasabi, na mamaya kung ano pa ang nasa isip niya or
something.
I: Ano ba ‘yung mga sa tingin mo na pumapasok sa isip ng mga lalaki ‘pag gano’n or
‘yung mga puwede nilang gawin?
P: Sinisiksik lang kasi hindi na makaupo gaya ng-‘pag sa jeep, sinasabi ng konduktor na,
“Sampuan ‘yan.” Kahit wala ng puwedeng maupuan pa ‘yung isa kasi sobrang sikip na.
At ang posibleng mangyari ay ‘di maiiwasan, ‘yung mga taong mapagsamantala.
Kunwari, habang nagsi-siksikan, dinudukutan na o hinihipuan na ‘yung mga katabi nilang
babae.
I: Okay po, so, ano, ayun [sic] po, ah, nagko-commute po kayo everyday tapos ang lagi
niyo pong ginagamit ay, lagi niyo pong sinasakyan ay bus or jeep tapos, mahirap po sa
inyo ang mag commute kasi nga po mainit. Ah, tapos ang lagi nyo pong iniisip, madalas
niyo pong iniisip kapag sumasakay po kayo ng bus or jeep is mainit na naman tapos
mahihirapan na naman kayo mag-biyahe. Tapos, ‘yung mga na-experience niyo po, um,
nauntog po kayo. Kapag nakakatulog po kayo sa public transport or may mga taong nagli-
lean sa inyo kapag nakatulog sila, tapos ayun [sic] po natatawa po kayo sa sarili niyo
kapag nauuntog kayo or something. Tapos, kapag naman po matanda ‘yung nag-lean sa
inyo, okay lang kasi naisip niyo po pagod sila or kapag naman po, um, lalaki, talaga
naman pong shino-shove off niyo sila kapag nagli-lean sila sa inyo, tapos ayun [sic], ayun
[sic] po ‘yung mga sagot niyo po, ‘di ba. [reads consent form again] Thank you po!
Page No. 63
I: [reads consent form], so pwede na po ba tayo mag start?

P: Sure.
I: So, nagko-commute po ba kayo?
P: Yes.
I: Ah, gaano kadalas ka nagko-commute sa isang linggo?
P: I commute almost every day of the week.
I: So, um, what type of public transportation did you use the most?
P: I ride a jeepney the most to go to school galling sa dorm. Second sa jeepney is, of
course, tricycle whenever I’m in my hometown sa (municipality). Tricycle talaga.
I: So, is commuting difficult or convenient for you?
P: Commuting is more difficult than convenient because, of course, I have to deal there
external factors, that I cannot control, for example the heat, sometimes the aroma but,
ah, that’s part of it, so I don’t have choice but to tiis na lang.
I: So ‘yung ano, ‘pag sumasakay ka ng mga public transportation ano ‘yung mga
pumapasok sa isip mo? Kapag ano-
P: Once I step foot on any public transportation talaga, parang I have that tendency talaga
to cover up something, even though I know I dress decently ganon and I just been like,
anong tawag dito, there are unwanted looks talaga sometimes, so ayon [sic].
I: So yung mga unwanted look na yon. Puwede bang, saan mo ba nakukuha yung mga
ganon?
P: I think, it’s all about mindset, uh, if you’re a man or a woman, if you see someone dress
decent or not decent for—it’s all about the mindset, if you will look sexually or just ignore,
because it’s not your body anyway so.
I: So ano-ano ‘yung mga nae-experience mo na, kapag nagko-commute ka and your
daily—
P: On my daily basis, especially going to school even morning and going home luckily
my, um, most time in the jeepney every week, it’s just two to five minutes, because I’m
near distance between my dorm but, that two to five minutes, ah, not always, but I
experience things like sometimes, of course, when I sit in the jeepney with a skirt in the
part of the uniform, my legs spread of course the, the natural, uh, side of the legs spread
on the sit so ‘yun na nga, as I mention, I experience unwanted and disgusting looks from
men specifically, so ayun it’s hard to deal with it though I’m not really a pants person.
Parang I’m more comfortable na laging shorts pero not really, like, ‘yong the shortest
shorts. Mostly, always above the knee wala, ‘yon, do’n ako parang feeling ko na I can
Page No. 64
com-I can move, I’m comfortable gano’n kaya ‘yon lagi naiisip ko na I need to cover up.
Lalo na wala naman ako lagging kasama or kakilala whenever nasa public transpo.
I: Anong nararamdaman mo kapag nakakaranas ka ng ganon?
P: I feel like, uh, I-I can’t release I think that, I thinking [sic] that what’s the purpose of
looking, the you just; it’s not that hard you just sit in the public transpo and mind your
business and think that just think that you’re going somewhere you just hope that you get
there safe, like that there’s no point of making other people in that public transportation
comfort.., uncomfortable anyway.
I: Tapos do you feel that you are the one responsible po do’n sa mga nangyayari sa’yo
kapag nagko-commute ka?
P: Partly. Of course, kasi ako ‘yon eh. It was my choice. Kunwari, ‘yon nga, in the situation
na ak-sa, sa clothes na pinipili ko, it was my choice to wear that even though aware ako
sa environment na talaga naman, atsa, at sa mga possible, ah, things na mangyari,
negative man or positive, so, yes, I think I’m responsible naman.
I: So, how do you deal with those experiences?
P: In those experiences mostly, um, even though I have colleague example my friends
when I go out with them, um, most effective I think for now is ignore because I don’t really
want to make a scene and involve any one in the situation and I think that I’m not yet
ready to confront those kind of people.
I: You don’t want to make a scene, bakit?
P: Because, ah, I already know the feeling na uncomfortable ka sa public place, so ayaw
ko na siyang ibigay pa, iparanas pa do’n sa mga kasama ko na hindi naman damay do’n
sa nangyari.
I: So, kapag ba, ‘di ba sabi mo i-ignore mo na lang. Anong nararamdaman mo kapag ini-
ignore, parang nalulungkot ka ba kasi wala kang magawa?
P: Kaya, of course, uh, the idea that comes to my mind is, “Why am I this weak?” When
other people experience it, I wanna fight, I wanna, I have this urgency or strong, ay, a
strong belief that we should confront them. We should do it, but when you are in that
situation already, when you are the one there it’s, ah, it’s like the weakness the, the
shaking feeling in your body. It’s just, ah, unavoidable
I: Tapos, when do you think will you be ready na i-confront ‘yong mga gumagawa sa’yo
ng (inaudible)?
P: I think ‘pag kasi, it all comes to the ano, eh, to the-if there will be solid consequences
kumbaga. Now, I’m not aware na, kung may implement [sic] bang law sa mga ganyan.
I’m not really aware, but, if ever na it is really, strongly implemented, may punishment or
consequences sa mga, even the little things na nangyayari sa public transpo, harassment
man or not. Siguro then, I will be confident to confront, kasi I know there will be actions to
take.
Page No. 65
I: So, do you think there are factors that may have affected how other commuters treat
you in public transportation?
P2: Of course, there are factors. One of is, ah, sex itself or gender. If you’re a woman I
feel like, nowadays, even though there a people who really does.., accept that just wear
what you want or be.., be yourself, be proud of your body there are still, of course, people
who see you as still a woman but at the same time objectifies you. They see that you
always need help, you’re the one… you should be tender, you should be quiet, you should
be feminine and there’s any experience there. In one time, when I was in the public
transportation and there was a only one available sit, and a man was already sitting in
that sit while a woman came and the driver’s said that, “Hoy, ikaw na lang umupo babae
ka eh, kawawa ka naman.” So, yeah, it’s just all about treatment and respect to each
other.
I: Umupo ba siya no’n?
P: Yes, she did.
I: Ah. Kung ikaw ‘yong nasa situation niya, uupo ka rin ba kapag sinabi ‘yon sa ‘yo?
P: No, of course not. Hindi talaga, kasi in respect na lang to the time that the people, ano,
they fall in line kasi in that van transportation. Kung hindi na talaga kasya, parang respect
mo ‘yong mga taong nauna sa’yo kasi, ayon [sic].
R: Ah, so, ayan ulitin ko. ‘Di ba nagko-commute ka tapos almost every day ka nagko-
commute using the jeepney papunta sa school so parang iniisip mo na parang ‘wag na
lang pansinin ‘yung mga lalaki na ‘yung tumititig sayo. So ayun [sic] lang. [rereads consent
form]
Page No. 66
I: [reads consent form]

P: Handa na po.
I: Ah, nagko-commute po ba kayo?
P: Yes po, five times a week.
I: Ano pong klase ng transportation mga nagagamit niyo po (inaudible)?
P: Kadalasan ah sumasakay ako sa tricycle, bus at saka jeep. Madalas akong pumupunta
siyempre, ano, sa school o kaya sa bahay ng kaklase ko or gagala.
I: Para sa inyo po ba, madali lang ba ‘yung pagcocommute or hindi?
P: Mas convenient siya sa akin kasi wala naman kaming sasakyan.
I: So an-ano po yung mga naiisip niyo every time na sumasakay kayo sa isang public
utility?
P: ‘Pag Monday lang naman ako nahihirapan sumakay kasi nga lagi ko naiisip na ano
standing sa bus.
I: Bakit po parang ayaw niyo sa standing?
P: Ayaw ko kasi sa standing lalo na kapag nakapalda ka, kasi ano, nakakangalay sa hita
lalo na kapag naka-heels.
I: Eh kapag ka sa jeep po kayo nakasakay or sa tricycle, ano po yung mga pumapasok
sa isip niyo?
P: Yung siksikan o kaya kung wala akong ah mauupuan.
I: Bakit po?
P: Ano, parang, kasi sa siksikan, minsan, nagkaka-hipuan.
I: Naka-experience ka na ba ng gano’n or parang may nakuwento lang sa’yo ‘yung friends
mo or relatives?
P: Nakaka-ano lang, napapanood minsan sa mga palabas, ‘yung gano’n, pero ‘yung sa
personal, wala pa naman.
I: So ano po yung mga nararanasan niyo po kapag ka sumasakay kayo sa isang public
transportation?
P: Ay ano minsan nakaranas na ako ng ano hingin yung number ko ng pasahero o kaya
hindi ako kalabitin ng condoctor para magbayad.
I: Ano pong naramdaman niyo no’ng hindi ka kinalabit ng konduktor para magbayad?
P: Natuwa, siyempre. [laughs]
Page No. 67
I: So, ibig sabihin hindi ka rin nagbayad?
P: Pero ano, siyempre, ano kasi ‘yon, Monday ‘yon, siksikan. Ta’s ‘di niya naman talaga
‘ko tinatanong. Alam niya namang wala ‘kong ticket kaya sinabi ko, “Kuya wala pa akong
ticket,” ‘Di niya naman ako binalikan, so wala na ‘kong fault do’n kasi nag-initiate naman
akong magbayad. Hindi na ako nagbayad. Siya ‘yong hindi na lumapit sa’kin.
I: Sa tingin mo, bakit?
P: Bet yata ako no’ng [sic] konduktor. [laughs]
I: So ano po yung mga ano yung mga ginawa niyo para ma-handle ‘yung sa hiningi ‘yong
number niyo?
P: Katulad nung sinabi ko kanina na hiningi ung number ko tsaka email address. Binigay
ko pero nanghula ako ng ano email address para lang tigilan ako.
I: So ano po bang naramdaman niyo nang hinihingi ung number niyo?
P: [laughs] Wala, natawa lang ako. Kinakabahan din ako kasi ano malolo na siya tapos
ang kulit-kulit niya kaya yun binigay ko pero iba naman yung binigay.
I: Hindi ba kayo natakot no’n?
P: Hindi naman kasi, hingin niya ‘yon, eh maalam naman akong mang-ano, mantrick ng
tao.
I: Bakit hindi mo na lang sinabing ayaw mong ibigay, bakit nagbigay ka ng iba?
P: Parang, in a way, parang nakakatakot. ‘Yung parang, parang ‘pag tumanggi ka parang
nakakahiya, parang sa sarili mo, parang ikaw ‘yung nahihiya kaysa, dapat nga, dapat nga
tanggihan ko nga dapat ‘yon.
I: Ah, so nahiya ka no’n, parang naisip mo na, “Ang sama ko naman kung tatanggihan
ko.”
P: [laughs] Oo.
I: Pagkatapos mo ibigay may mga iba pa bang nangyari or tinigilan kaba niya?
P: Ano, pumara na ako sa kahit hindi ko pa bababaan.
I: Bakit bumaba ka na agad?
P: Natakot na ako sa kanya kasi, siyempre, pati ‘yong account ko sa Facebook hinihingi
niya na. Bumaba na ako.
I: Natakot ka kasi baka may iba pa siyang gawin sa’yo?
P: Mm-hm, baka may iba pang hingin, ‘yung mga hindi dapat hinihingi.
I: Ah, sa mga ganon pong pangyayari sa tingin mo ba may mga nakakaapektong factors
kung bakit kanila, halimbawa, kung bakit humingi ng ganun?
Page No. 68
P: Siguro isa sa factors na hinihingi nila yung number o kaya cat-calling base din sa
kasuotan ng isang babae kasi alam naman natin sa Pilipinas na kapag magsuot ka ng
maikli o something na daring ahm marami talagang titingin sayo.
I: Ano pa po yung mga sa sa tingin niyo na…
P: Siguro sa itsura din katulad ng kahit kasi anong itsura ng ah babae sa ah sa pagsuot
o kaya kung may make-up o wala kung may lalaki talaga na bastos yun cacat-calling ka
parin atsaka kung ano-anong pwedeng gawin sayo pag nagcocommute ka.
I: Sa mga ano sa mga nararanasan mo at sa nararanasan ng iba wala ka bang parang
ano yung gus- ano yung nararamdaman na base dun sa mga pangyayari?
P: syempre una kong ah nararamdaman is yung takot kasi baka kung anong gawin sa
akin o kaya baka sundan ako tsaka pangalawa dapat ay ginagawa pag ganon ay magpray
ka din para sa guidance.
I: Kapag nagpe-pray ka, pakiramdam mo ba na safe ka sa travel mo?
P: Oo, pakiramdam ko kino-cover naman ako ni Jesus.
I: Kapag sa mga gano’ng bagay, ah, ‘yung sa pagsasakay mo sa public transportation,
feeling mo ba kailangan mong mag-adjust sa iba or?
P: Siguro everyday naman yata ng pagbi-biyahe natin, kahit hindi lang naman ako,
kailangan talaga nating mag-adjust kasi iba-ibang klase ng tao ‘yung nakakaharap natin
everyday.
I: Mag-adjust in what way?
P: Mag-adjust, tulad, kunwari sa bus, standing, ‘pag may Nakita ka siyempreng lola,
papaupuin mo. Kahit naman lalaki, hindi naman natin puwedeng sabihan na, “Hoy, lalaki
ka, paupuin mo naman ako, babae ako. Hindi ba parang ano ‘yon, gender inequality ‘yon.
Nagbayad din naman siya, maghihintay na lang ako ng may space pa, na bababa.
I: So uulitin ko lang di ba ano ung mga sagot mo na nagcocommute ka nga five ano five
five times a week tas ung mga sinasakyan mo ay jeep, bus and tricycle. So yung
commuting hindi siya ah convenient siya para sayo kasi sabi mo nga wala naman kayong
ibang sasakyan so yun lang yung nagagamit mo. Tapos yung mga experiences mo ah
isa na dun yun nga yung hingan ka ng number at tsaka email address atsaka ibinigay mo
yun kahit hindi naman yung sarili mong ah ano number and email address. So yung mga
factors na ah sa tingin mo ay nakakaapekto ay sabi mo nga sa pananamit or minsan hindi
naman talaga sa itsura or sa sa pananamit na kung di sa tao na lang na gumagawa. So
ayun [sic] lang po maraming salamat.
Page No. 69
I: [reads consent form] Um, nagko-commute po ba kayo?

P: Yes.
I: Um, how often do you commute po sa isang linggo?
P: Depende, pero usually mga ano, five to seven. Siyempre ‘pag weekdays, sa school,
tapos ‘pag saturdays, minsan ‘pag pupunta ‘kong LB to meet yung mga friends ko dati.
Tapos ‘pag Sunday, sa simbahan namin.
I: Five to seven. Tapos ano po’ng type ng public transportation ang madalas niyong
ginagamit?
P: Um, minsan bus, minsan jeep.
I: ‘Yung mga pagsakay niyo po ba ng bus or jeep, mahirap po siya or madali para sa
inyo?
P: Mahirap lalo ‘pag sa bus, standing, tapos punuan. Tapos sa jeep, ‘pag ‘yung bigla
akong makakasakay, tapos akala ko may mauupuan pa ako. Kasi ang biyahe ko ano,
ang bahay ko kasi sa Calauan pa, so malayo kung from Calauan tapos sa school
nakatayo ako. Mahirap. Ah, sa jeep, siyempre ‘pag siksikan, ‘yun nga [pause] hirap ako
umupo, parang lagi na lang kalahati lang ng pwet ko yung nakaka-upo.
I: Ano po ‘yung mga ganon po, ano po ‘yung mga na experience niyo kapag sumasakay
kayo ng bus or jeepney?
P: Ah ‘yung tanda ko noong sumakay ako sa jeep, isang beses pauei na ako noon kasi
nagmamadali ako, sabi ni mommy umuwi na daw agad ako kasi gabi na. So pagkakita
ko ng sakay ako agad. Tapos sabi ‘nung driver pwede pa daw sumakay, so pumasok
ako. Tapos pagkatingin ko sa mga upuan, as in wala ng space. Mayroong space na kaunti
pa mga siguro mga 1, 1/8 na na lang nandoon. Tapos umupo ako ng kaunti, tapos ano,
kalagitnaan ng biyahe, parang hindi ko na kinaya nangangalay na ‘yung legs ko. Ang
ginawa ko nasa ano na ako gitna na ng jeep, nakasakit akong ganyan, dalawang kamay
sa ano. Tapos sa bus, naka-experience ako ‘yung parang hindi talaga ako makahinga,
kasi sobrang daming tao, siksikan nando’n na ako sa may pinto ng bus naka-nakagilid na
ako do’n sa may salamin, sobrang siksikan ‘yun. Mabuti na lang, may dala ‘ko laging
paper bag, kasi dati may history na ‘ko ng, parang [pause] nagha-hyperventilate so, yung
parents ko, lagi na ‘kong pinagdadala ng paper bag so, ‘yon. ‘Yun ‘yung ginawa ko.
Kinuha ko yung paper bag tapos ‘yun yung ginamit ko.
I: Tapos may mga na-experience po ba kayo na ‘yung fellow commuters niyo po ‘yung
nagcause or wala?
P: Parang wala naman.
I: Ah, wala naman. Ano po yung ginawa niyo sa ganung experiences ‘yung siksikan po
na standing lang kayo ‘tas ‘yung sa jeep po wala na kayo maupuan?
Page No. 70
P: Ayun, sa jeep talaga trinatry ko na tiisin na lang ‘yung sakit ng legs ko. Tapos sa bus,
‘yung, ‘yun nga, ‘yung ‘yun- ‘pag minsan hindi ako nakahinga, lagi ako may dalang
pamaypay.
I: Tapos ano po ‘yung mga naramdaman niyo psychologically?
P: Sobrang ano, ah, nakakadagdag sa stress. Yung standing siguro, stress kasi minsan
kasi mayroong standing, yung siksikan din, ‘yung ‘di san a makagalaw tas’ parang, hirap
kang pumunta sa unahan. Tapos mayroon [sic] din sa jeep, nakakastress siya kasi, oo,
parang nakakangawit ganon, tapos mayroon din iniisip.
I: Tapos, sa ano po sa tingin niyo mayroong mga factors na nakaka-apekto ‘yung mga
nangyari po sa inyo ganon’ sa public transportation?
P: Um, minsan ‘pag sa bus ‘pag nakikita na nakapencil-skirt ako, pinapaupo naman nila
ako. Siguro kasi, yung pencil skirt, mukhang mahirap [laughs] mukha siyang, mukha
mahirap magstanding ‘pag naka-pencil skirt. ‘Di ko alam, pero ‘pag ‘yung nakaganito ako,
nakamaong pants or P.E., parang hinayaan nila ako na magstanding kahit mayroon,
parang hindi nila ako priority ‘pag may bababa na pasahero, ang papaupuin nila ‘yung
iba na nakaskirt din ganon’. Kapag may nagpapa-upo naman, uumupo ako siyempre.
Parang tine-take advantage ko na rin.
I: So, ang parang ini-imply niyo po, is depende po sa suot niyo ‘yun-
P: Oo, parang naiisip ko, parang ano, parang sort of discrimination, parang iniisip nila na
‘pag naka-skirt ‘di na kaya magstanding ganon tapos ‘pag nakapants kaya, ganon.
I: May mauupuan po kayo o wala, okay po. So, uulitin ko lang po ‘yung mga sagot niyo
sa interview. Nagcocommute po kayo, five to seven times a week. Tapos bus and jeep
po and madalas niyo po’ng gamitin. Tapos para po sa inyo po, is mahirap magcommjte
gawa ng naisip niyo nga po ‘yung siksikan. Tapos minsan po standing lang po kayo sa
isang PUV is inisip niyo nga po kung masikip na naman ba o mag-istanding lang po ba
kayo. Tapos ‘yung nakaupo-nakakaupo ng part ng body niyo. Tapos ‘yun na nga po nag-
hang nalang po kayo sa handle, ‘tas doon na po kayo sa may gitna na lang ng jeep. And
‘yung sa bus po ‘yung nasa may door na po kayo, kasi nga po standing. Tapos ‘yung mga
naramdam niyo po noon na parang nadagdagan ang stress niyo. Tapos masakit, nanakit
po ‘yung legs niyo. And may naexperience po kayo, may mga experience po kayo na
kapag naka-skirt kayo, pinapaupo po kayo, pero kapag nakapants po kayo or ahm jogging
pants, ahm hindi nalang po kayo pinapaupo kasi parang priority po nila is ‘yung mga naka-
skirt. Ayun po, ahm ulitin ko lang po ‘yung consent form na mag-agree po kayo na
magkaroon ng picture-taking, full body poses from the rear, sided and front. Tapos ‘yung
mga sagot niyo po ditto sa interview ay nirecord naming, and pwede po kayong, pwede
po kayong magwithdraw kapag ayaw niyo po maging participant ng study naming, and
wala pong direct benefitd or disadvantages ‘yung pagparticipate niyo or hindi
pagparticipate. And ‘yung personal information niyo po is magreremain confidential, and
we shared among our, of researchers. Ayun po, thank you for participating in interview.
P: Thank you.
Page No. 71
I: [reads consent form] So pwede na po ba tayo magstart?
P: [coughs] Sure.
I: Ah, do you commute po?
P: Yes.
I: Ah, how often do you commute po sa isang linggo?
P: Super rare lang siguro, siguro occassionally lang talaga.
I: Um, kapag po occassionally po kayo nagcommute, what type of public transportation
yung pinaka-nasasakyan niyo?
P: Jeep, jeep at bus.
I: Saan po kayo pumupunta?
P: Do’n sa-kasi hatid-sundo kasi ako since bata pa, so parang naga-a, nagko-commmute
lang ako kapag pupunta sa, for example, meeting place para sa project or study, group
study.
I: Sa mga PT, gano’n?
P: Sa mga PT lang ako nagko-commute ‘pag hindi available si father.
I: So, para po sainyo yung mga occasional times na nagcommute kayo is it difficult or
convenient naman po?
P: Para sakin difficult, depende sa kot - ay depende sa time. Like for example rush hour
yun mahirap yun kasi siksikan. Lalong-lalo na pag galing kang (local mall) tapos pauwi
ka dito ‘yung, ‘yung uniform mo sobrang ikli diba? Mahirap.
I: Eh, ‘pag naman po hindi rush hour, is it alright?
P: Mainit. [laughs] ‘Yun lang, ‘yun lang masasabi ko mainit.
I: What is on your mind naman po every time you step foot on a public utility vehicle?
P: Safety.
I: Safety?
P: Safety.
I: Safety sa ano po?
P: Safety sa gamit ko syempre, tapos yung lugar na pupuntahan ko, kasi mahirap na,
kasi ‘di natin - para sa ‘kin, ha, medyo praning ako sa ganyan.
I: Bakit ka po napa-praning? May experiences ka ba na negative or?
Page No. 72
P: Past experiences, siguro hindi ko na-experience, pero na-experience ng ate ko, so,
parang through that, na parang-I’ve learned na kailangan ko talagang maging, ah, maging
secure sa gamit. Lalong-lalo na ‘wag akong magdadala ng sobrang (inaudible).
I: So ‘yung nangyari sa ate mo, parang nanakawan ba siya?
P: Yes,yes. Na-experience-nanakawan siya ng phone sa public transportation.
I: Um, what are your experiences po in using public tranportation?
P: Elaborate ko lahat? Para sa study niyo? Osige, since hindi ba ito ‘yung women with
different somatotypes, ito ‘yung body types diba? So as you can see my body right now
(laughs). Siyempre chubby ako ngayon, pero before nakita ko lang after ni Nikki sinabi
‘yung research niyo, nagkaroon ako ng idea - na what if i-share ko sa inyo ‘yung
experiences ko before and ngayon. Noon, before kasi, um, hindi ako ganito kataba, like
hindi naman skinny pero siguro mas payat kaysa ngayon. Tapos before, habang nagko-
commute ako, syempre hindi naman ako nag-aayos or anything, kahit naka-t-shirt lang
ako or anytning, laging may may nakatingin, laging may tumitingin kahit hindi naman ako
binabastos kasi tinatarayan ko sila. Tingin ko pa lang tinatarayan ko na sila, pero lagi
silang nakatingin, pero right now, syempre tumataba na tayo, wala ng tumitingin. So
parang doon pa lang makikita na natin na… iba yung stereotypes ng mga tao dep - lalong-
lalo na sa mga body types ng isang kababaihan.
I: Um, how did you deal with it po? How did you deal with those experiences po, ano pong
naramdaman niyo kapag may tumitingin sainyo?
P: Para sa akin, mas safe kapag mataba ka [laughs]. Hindi kasi- Kasi ganyan sila, may
nakikita pa nga ‘kong sign kapag mataba ka ganito ganito ganyan ‘di ba sa jeep?
nakalagay doble pe- doble, ano, bayad para sa ‘kin hindi naman ako nao-offend. I feel
safe naman, pero syempre may mga tao na parang hindi naging excuse yung damit mo
or anything. Basta kung- kung ganito siyang tao, ganito talaga siya. So how kung- pano
ko idi-deal ‘yung, ano ‘yung- anong sabi mo?
I: Pa’no mo naha-handle? Ano po ‘yung na-feel ninyo?
P: So, ayon nga, I feel safe tapos ayun.
I: ‘Yung sa ano naman, sa mga nakalagay sa jeepney na kapag chubby or ano, parang
doble bayad, sa tingin mo ba-‘di ba sabi mo na hindi ka naman na-offend sa gano’n, sa
tingin mob a, may mga nao-offend kaya kapag nakikita nila ‘yon?
P: Of course, kasi iba-iba insecurity ng mga kababaihan sa kanila, sa sarili nila. Sa iba,
sa kanila, may Makita silang picture, para sa kanila, joke lang ‘yun or anything. Pero sa
iba, siyempre, sensitive sila sa mga gano’ng subject. For example, um, a student or a
teenager experiencing insecurities lalong-lalo na sa weight niya, so every time na
makikita niya ‘yon, parang magtataka siya na, “Am I worthy enough?” Gano’n.
I: Tapos do you think they are factors po na that have effect yung kung pano po kayo
itreat ng fellow commuters?
P: Hindi. Wala naman.
Page No. 73
I: So ang iniimply niyo po parang, it is in nate na po talaga iyon sakanila kung bakit po
nila tinitreat kayo ng ganon.
P: Oo. Oo. What’s in nate? [laughs] Osige. Sorry nakalimutan ko na.
I: So uulitin ko lang po yung mga responses niyo po ditto sa interview, so ahm. You
commute po occasionally. Tapos ang type of public utility vehicle na ginagamit niyo Is
bus or jeepney tapos ahm commuting is difficult for you because of either the heat or if
its rush hour siksikan po sila sa sasakyan tapos everytime you step foot po on a VUV ang
iniisip niyo po is yung safety your valuable tapos yung destination niyo po then yung
experiences niyo po in using public transportation before na… hindi pa sabi niyo na hindi
pa nga po ganyan yung body niyo ang napansin niyo po ay is yung unwanted looks ng
fellow commuters niyo and ngayon naman po na ganyan na po ang body niyo sabi niyo
nga po parang ahm little to know yung unwanted looks from strangers na naexperience
niyo tapos yung paghahandle niyo po sa mga ganong experiences parang tinatarayan
niyo po sila sa tingin niyo palang parang tinitigilan nila kayo and ahm you felt safe po right
now kasi hindi na nila kayo tinitignan ng madalas and you think po na there no really
factors na nakakaapekto kung pano ka itreat ng other commuters kasi para sainyo na
personality na nila yon in nate na nila yun, in nature na nila yun na kaya po nila kayo
tinitreat ng ganon.
P: Ah, may a-
I: May additional?
P: Yes, of course may mga factors. Sorry hindi ko naintindihan, ‘di ba [laughs] Yes, may
mga factors sa akin lang ba?
I: Para sa inyo po.
P: Yes, may mga factors syempre sa pananamit ko on how they treat me, like for example,
‘pag naka-uniform ako syempre rerespetuhin nila kasi estudyante pero kapag naka-
civilian ako lalong-lalo na kapag shorts or medyo sexy, doon. Doon parang iba ‘yung
tingin lalong-lalo na yung mga babae tapos, um, ‘pag - siguro kasi maputi ako or malaki
‘yung boobs ko. [laughs] Basta kapag naka-formal, naka-formal na damit ka or anything.
Siguro talaga ‘yung factors talaga ay ‘yung pananamit natin. Siguro body type nandyan
na ‘yung factor pero kasi ‘yung pananamit natin doon natin na idadala eh. Doon, doon
nadi-describe kung ano tayo parang. [sic]
I: ‘Di ba ang sabi niyo po sa pananamit, so parang sa sarili mo, parang, anong naiisip mo
na ipagpatuloy ko ba na isuot ko lang ‘yung kung anong gusto ko or dapat ba ‘kong mag-
adjust?
P: Para sa akin gust - para sa akin, ha, gusto ko suotin ko kung anong gusto ko, pero
dapat isipin ko kung anong sasakyan ko, kung ano yung location na pupuntahan ko, at
kung sino yung mga makakasama ko, kasi I can wear shorts, I can wear crop top, pero
pa’no kaya, pa’no kaya ‘yung iba? Pa’no kaya ‘yung tingin ng iba para sa ‘kin? Okay lang
para sa iba okay lang, pero pa’no ‘yung iba ayon para sa ‘kin?
Page No. 74
I: So, before you decide what you’re gonna wear, parang you’re mindful po yung pa’no,
yung pa’no kayo iti-treat ng iba, and kung saan po kayo pupunta, kung fit ba siya sa
pupuntahan o gano’n.
P: Kasi para sakin ngayon napapansin ko hindi lang sa body, hindi sila focus sa body
type, focus sila kung ano yung damit mo, kung anong makikita nila ‘pag suot mo yan yun
lang.
Page No. 75
I: [reads consent form] Can we start na po?
P: Yes! Of course!
I: Uhm, nagcocommute po ba kayo?
P: Yes, every day. Oo, every day.
I: Papunta po saan? Pa-school din po?
P: Uhm, pa-school, of course ‘pag weekdays. Tapos pauwi naman sa Cavite ‘pag
weekends, kapag gusto ko na umuwi pero kapag ka hindi, ayon, stay put lang sa, sa
boarding house.
I: What type of public transportation po yung madalas ninyo pong gamitin?
P: Tricycle and jeep. Pag pa-Cavite, bus pa- Alabang tapos sasakay ulit ako ng jeep pa-
Bulihan tas tricycle, ‘yon. Kapag ka ano naman, sa may malapit na sa amin, pa-tricycle,
ako’y sinusundo ng nanay ko or tatay ko kasi, ‘yun, natakot din sila nab aka raw hindi ako
dalhin ng tricycle driver sa bahay naming.
I: Yung pagsakay niyo po ng tricycle and jeepney, convenient po ba s’ya or difficult for
you?
P: Um, convenient naman s’ya somehow, but then, at some point, mayroon akong kina-
iirita na bagay. ‘Yong sa tricycle, alam n’yo ‘yong, ‘yong sa loob, ‘yong maliit. ‘Yong pinipilit
kang pasakayin doon para lang, oo, umaalis na. So, ‘pag ka ganoon, ayaw ko talagang
umuupo doon kasi ang hirap. May, dala-dala ko ‘yong bag ko tapos ang sikip sikip pa tas
ang lalaki pa nung mga nasa loob. So, struggle ako. Kapag ka ganoon, may mga
pagkakataon na natatarayan ko ‘yong *laughs* driver kasi nga ayaw ko tas namimilit tas
sasabihan ka pa ng ‘ang arte naman!’ Eh ikaw kaya umupo doon! Nangingialam ka eh
ayaw ko nga umupo!
I: Tapos, what is on your mind po every time na sasakay kayo ng jeepney or tricycle?
P: Ahhh, wala, normal lang. Iniisip ko ‘yong patutunguhan ko. [laughs]
I: Ano po ‘yong mga na-eexperience niyo in using public transportation po?
P: Ahh, ayon. Isa ‘yon kapag ka minsan, kapag ka nauwi ako sa Cavite, mahilig kasi ako
mag-short. Wala, kasi komportable sa pakiramdam. And then, may mga pagkakataon na
kapag ka, alam mo ‘yon, kapag ka syempre, super, super short ka, parang kapag ka
aakyat ka rin sa jeep, parang automatic na ‘yong tingin kaagad sa’yo nung mga, mga tao
Page No. 76
sa binti mo ganon. Hindi ko alam kung jina-judge ba na mabalbon ako or whatsoever
ganon.
I: Uhm, how did you deal with those kind of experiences po?
P: Ahh, minsan kasi ako, kapag ka kunwari, ang awkward kasi sa part na tititigan ka ‘di
ba? Ang awkward talaga. Ang creepy. So, ang tendency, para ma-feel nila ‘yong
awkwardness, nakikipag titigan din ako sa kanila. Minsan tinataasan ko ng kilay, ganon.
Nagmamaldita ‘ko. [laughs]
I: Kapag po ba, sabi niyo nga po, tinititigan niyo or tinataasan niyo ng kilay, tinitigilan
naman po kayo?
P: Oo kasi parang, parang, na-aawkwardan, na ‘ay shocks, ang sama ng titig sa akin’
nakakaramdam, so ‘yon.
I: Kapag po nakaka-experience kayo ng mga ganon, anong often na nararamdaman

niyo?
P: Ahh, often na nararamdaman ko, naiinis, aawkward, ganon.
I: Sa, ‘pag sa tricyle po? Ganon din?
P: Kapag ka sa tricycle, oo, same lang, ganon.
I: Tapos, do you think po may mga factors na nakakaapekto kung bakit ginagawa ‘yon ng
fellow commuters niyo?
P: Oo, kasi ‘di ba nga, uhm, commonly, babae ako, and then, parang, kasi patriarcha-,
patriarchal society tayo and hindi pa ganoon ka-open ‘yong mindset ng, ng mga tao, ng
nga Pilipino, especially kapag ka nakakakita sila ng mga babae na medyo, alam niyo
‘yon? Medyo sexy or maiksi ‘yong suot, parang alam mo ‘yon? Medyo tumataas ang libido
ng mga kalalakihan, at some point. ‘Di ba, yung sa issue ng rape, ang tendency,
commonly, generally speaking, palaging sinisisi nila ang mga babae dahil sa suot.
Hellooo? Hindi kaya! [laughs] Wow!
I: So ‘di ba po, sabi niyo nga po, nagshoshorts po kayo lagi tapos sinabi niyo nga po na
about sa mga rape victims. Kayo po, personally, mag aadjust po ba kayo kasi syempre…
P: Oo. Ahhh, ang natutunan ko kasi sa sarili ko na, wala eh, komportable ako sa suot
kong ‘yon so bakit ako mag babago just for the sake na, alam mo ‘yon? ‘Di na ko titigan.
Wala eh komportable ako ‘don. Wala ‘kong pakialam kunggusto n’yo ‘kong titigan or
whatsoever.
I: How about your safety po?
Page No. 77
P: Uhm, safety, Ahh, safety. Ahh. Ahh! I remember one time, uhm, ano pa ‘ko n’on,
dormer pa ‘ko, nag-aaral pa ‘ko. Sa bus, siksikan so standing ovation ang peg ng lola mo!
Edi ayon, dahil nga standing ovation, siksikan, so ang tendency parang, alam mo ‘yon?
‘Yong, ‘yong, syempre medyo ma-, ma-future ang lola mo, *giggles* so, dahil siksikan,
standing ovation, may mga pagkakataon na na-ii, nadidikit na. Tapos, ma-ffeel mo naman
kasi talaga kung sinasadya ‘yong pag sanggi sa, alam mo ‘yon, sa, sa boobs mo or hindi
‘di ba? And that one time, I feel na, I felt na talagng, ay shet, nananadya ‘to, ilang beses
eh. So ang tendency, ‘yong, dahil sa sobrang maldita ko, minura ko, “putang ina!”And
then syempre, na-shook, nagulat, and then ‘yong ibang pasahero rin nagulat. And then
parang, medyo, na-, nagulat din s’ya, nawindang din s’ya, so ang tendency, napa-yuko
na lang s’ya at medyo, nag behave s’ya. SO hindi naman na ‘ko nagdadadaldal or
whatsoever na para ma-caught ‘yong attention ng, basta dahil sa sobrang inis ko
napamura na lang ako ng putang ina. So na-gets naman niya siguro ‘yon, ‘yon.
I: Hindi naman po kayo lumayo or?
P: Kasi siksikan, hindi talaga ‘ko makakalayo. Stay put lang ako doon sa puwesto ko,
‘yon.
I: Hindi niyo po ba naisip na pwede niyong i-report sa pulis or what?
P: Ahh! That time hindi ko na naisip na mag report sa pulis, kasi nga, parang, in the first
place, kung irereport ko sa pulis, mag-eeffort pa ‘kong pumunta sa office or sa
headquarters ng pulis that time. So, ‘yon, ‘di ko naisip talaga that time. Hindi ko rin alam.
I: So after po ng experience niyo na ‘yon, ano pong pumasok sa isip niyo?
P: Ahh, pumasok sa isip ko na, gago talaga ‘yong mga lalaki. Hindi ko gine-generalize
ha, pero pagdating sa usapang libido at libog, based on my observation, uhm, kapag ang
lalaki nakakakita ng mga babae, I mean, sexy, ‘yong pinapakita ng bonggang bonga ang
dapat ipakita or whatsoever, sobrang na-cacaught talaga ‘yong attention nila at may
tendency, hindi sila siguro aware, ‘no? Parang, at some point, parang, na, dala ng libog,
ng libido na nababastos nila or whatsoever. Mayroon pang times na, yung parang
sisipulan ka ganan, ‘hi miss bla bla’
I: Hmm, hindi po ba kayo natatakot ‘pag may mga ganon, katulad po noong sa bus-?
P: Ahh, tawag dito, nakakatakot siya, natatakot ako, naiisip ko yung takot kapag ka, gabi
ako bumabyahe. Pero kapag ka, araw, hindi. Hindi ako natatakot, oo, na mag react ng
gano’n. Hindi. Hindi ako natatakot. Natatakot talaga ko ‘pag gabi kasi syempre parang,
gabi na ‘yon, I mean, nung, nung nag-aaral kasi ako sa Manila, uhhm, tawag ditto,
commonly talaga, nakaka-uwi ako sa Cavite, ala una, so, oo, ala una ng madaling araw
kasi aalis ako sa dorm, siguro mga ala diyes, tas ‘yon, makakarating ako sa Cavite nga
mga, ala una, so ‘yon yung pinaka-kinakatakot ko. What if biglang may tumabi sa akin.
Eh gabi yun! Diyos ko po, madaling araw pa eh!
Page No. 78
I: Miss, uulitin lang po naming yung mga responses niyo during this interview. You
commute po everyday tapos ang type po ng public transportation na nasasakyan niyo is
jeepney and tricycle. Tapos para po sa inyo, mahirap lang mag-commute kapag sa
tricycle ipinipilit po kayong pasakayin sa charity seat, mahirap po kapag marami po
kayong dala. Tapos, on your mind po everytime na mag-, sasakay po kayo sa public
transpo is yung destination niyo po. Tapos may mga na-experience po na unwanted
experiences na ang nag-cause po is ‘yong fellow commuters, like ‘yong kapag parang
na-sexually harassed na po kayo, kapag naka-shorts kayo or parang revealing ‘yong
clothes niyo, (pause)
P: ‘Di ba nga sabi, if it is unwanted, then, it is sexual harassment.
I: Tapos, you dealt with naman, you dealt with it po by, parang, sa mata po, parang
iniirapan or nagtataas po kayo ng kilay or tinatarayan niyo po. And, the factor that may
have affected how others treat you sa public transport is ‘yong libido or libog po talaga ng
mga, ahh, sexual harassers or ‘yong fellow commuters niyo especially boys.
So may additional pa po ba kayo?
P: Uhm, wala na, so far *laughs* Wala na maisip so far. [laughs]
Page No. 79
I: Do you commute?
P: Yes.
I: Ah, how often do you commute in a week?
P: Every day.
I: Everyday like even Saturdays and Sundays?
P: Ay, hindi. Every, ano, school days lang.
I: Tapos, when you commute, sa'n.., edi sa school lang po kayo pumupunta kapag nagko-
commute kayo-
P: Mm-hm.
I: And house to school, school to house, gano'n po?
P: Oo, gano'n.
I: What type of public transportation po 'yung madalas niyong gamitin?
P: Jeepney.
I: Jeepney. Tapos 'yung pagsasakay niyo po sa jeepney, mahirap po ba 'yun or madali?
Why?
P: Minsan, kapag-kunyari naka-pants, like, for example, kapag-or 'pag Friday which is
nakasuot tayo ng 'yung org shirt tsaka 'pag P.E. Okay, ano, convenient naman s'ya tsaka
okay lang sa'kin. Kaso ang hirap kasi, kapag naka-palda tapos-parang ang hassle mag-
commute din, kasi, siyempre sa jeep 'yung upuan din minsan tapos may, may-'yung pencil
skirt pa 'yung palda, so mahirap.
I: Bakit po naging mahirap kapag naka-palda? Naiisip niyo ba baka may other commuters
na gano'n?
P: Oo, gano'n. Kasi, 'pag siyempre 'yung pencil skirt, eh, 'pag umuupo tayo parang
umiisod.
I: Tumataas?
P: Oo, tumataas 'yung ano, so nao-awkwardan ako minsan. (inaudible) conscious din ako
'pag naka-palda. (inaudible)
I: Bakit? Ba't ka parang feel mo na nako-conscious?
P: Hindi ako talaga sanay na nakikita 'yung-naka-skirt tsaka nakikita 'yung ano, ta's
siyempre, hindi lang naman babae 'yung commuters, may mga lalaki din ta's siyempre,
'di ko din naman alam kung anong pumapasok sa mga isip nila or gano'n-para lang safe.
I: What is on your mind every time na sasakay kayo ng jeepney?
Page No. 80
P: Ah, conscious kasi ako, eh, 'yun nga 'pag naka-palda, parang, 'pag ano, 'pag gano'n,
'pag sasakay ako ng jeep, iniisip ko lagi kung sa'n ako tatabi. 'Yon. Lagi kasing gusto ko
tatabi ako sa babae kasi nga conscious. 'Yun. Nao-awkwardan, kahit, parang stereotype
man, pero nao-awkwardan ako 'pag lalaki 'yung katabi.
I: Feel mo ba, ano, 'pag lalaki 'yung katabi mo, you're, somehow, unsafe sa pagbiyahe
mo (inaudible)?
P: Hindi naman sobra, awkward lang.
I: Sige.
P: [laughs]
I: What are your experiences in using public transportation?
P: Ano, minsan, hindi talaga ako 'yong nakaka-experience parang nakikita ko lang. 'Yung
looks no'ng mga lalaki, especially when the girls are wearing shorts 'pag bumababa tsaka
'pag sumasakay. Alam-nakikita kong hinahabol nila ng tingin 'yung mga bumababa tsaka
sumasakay. 'Yon. Naa-ano 'ko.
I: Ano pong napipi-feel niyo kapag may mga gano'n?
P: Hindi naman disgusted pero parang, ano lang, parang medyo-hindi naman galit, pero
parang naa-ano 'ko.
I: Naiinis ka?
P: Oo, naiinis ako kasi, bakit gano'n? Kailangan ba talagang habulin ng tingin 'yung mga
babaeng naka-shorts saka palda habang bumababa ng jeep? Ta's alam mo naman kung,
siyempre, sa'n sila nakatingin.
I: 'Pag 'yung gano'n, 'di ba sabi mo nako-conscious ka, ano 'yun dahil nakikita mo na
gano'n 'yung ginagawa nila sa iba or mayroon din sa part mo na sadyang conscious ka
lang sa kilos mo, sa damit mo, or pareho?
P: Ano, both, gano'n.
I: 'Yung, halimbawa, 'di ba may mga gano'ng nangyayari nga sa mga nakakasabay mo
na nakikita mo, wala kang-ano 'yun, tinitingnan mo lang din 'yung mga lalaking 'yon or
wala kang ginagawa after no'n?
P: Ano, actually, guilty ako na wala nga 'kong magawa kasi, siyempre, takot din ako para
sa sarili ko. Ta's ang ginagawa ko na lang, parang ako, tsaka 'yung mga kaibigan ko,
sinasabihan ko na lang sila na kapag sasakay ng jeep ganito, ganyan. Tapos 'yon.
I: Parang wina-warningan mo na lang?
P: Mm-hm, warning.
I: Sa tingin mo, sa'n nanggaling 'yung fear na natatakot ka na, halimbawa, umimik or mag-
take action sa mga gano'ng nangyayari?
Page No. 81
P: Kasi, siyempre, babae ako, ta's, syempre, lalaki sila. Mas may power sila if ever man
na 'pag, 'pag cinonfront ko sila baka mamaya kung anong gawin nila. Ta's lalaki sila, alam
kong medyo mas may power sila.
I: Ikaw, personally, 'yung sa pagbibiyahe mo, wala ka namang ibang nararanasan kahit
hindi 'yung kagaya ng nakikita mo sa ano, 'yung mga, mga nararamdaman mo gano'n?
P: Um, wala naman.
I: Tapos ano 'yung example na parang nai-natatakot ka na puwedeng gawin nila sa'yo?
Like puwede nilang saktan, gano'n, or sigawan, mga gano'n?
P: Oo. Natatakot ako na ano, 'yun nga, baka-kasi takot ako sa parang hot seat na
makikipag-ano talaga 'ko. Makipag-'yung sa confrontation kasi ayaw ko din [sic] ng, ano,
nasisigawan, 'yung gano'n.
I: Tapos, sa tingin mo ba may mga factors kung bakit may mga nakaka-experience ng
gano'n and bakit ka nako-conscious or nao-awkward kapag tumatabi ka sa lalaki or
something? May mga factors?
P: Paulit no'ng [sic] tanong. [laughs]
I: Tingin mo ba may mga factors kung bakit ka nagiging conscious or awkward and kung
bakit nagiging gano'n 'yung trato no'ng [sic] ibang commuters sa women?
P: Ay, wait, feel ko-feeling ko sa mga lalaki, feel ko kasi alam nilang mas may ano sila,
mas may power sila kasi nga lalaki sila. Tapos 'yung sa'kin kaya parang, bakit ako parang
natatakot minsan, gano'n, kasi syempre ang dami ko ng, ano, naririnig, nababalita na
mga gano'n na nangyayari. 'Yon, parang gano'n.
I: Anong, (inaudible), hindi, 'yung particularly na mga nangyayaring gano'n? Ano 'yung,
parang mga nakikita mong experience and nae-experience na rin no'ng [sic] mga friends
mo, mga gano'n?
P: 'Yung ano, 'di ba, sa news 'yung mga babae, yung lalo na 'pag gabi, gano'n, 'di ba naa-
ano sila sa public transpo, sa mga jeep, sa mga taxi, ng mga lalaki, gano'n. 'Yun 'yung
ano, eh, parang iniiwasan ko.
I: May mga times din ba na umuwi ka ng late, mga gano'n?
P: Oo. Na-experience ko 'yon na, ano, na late na 'ko umuwi ta's na nagte-'yung hindi
talaga 'ko nagte-text na parang, halimbawa, one time (inaudible) na natakot ako kasi,
parang, wala na talagang ibang sakay sa jeep kundi ako saka 'yung, 'yung driver which
is lalaki tsaka 'yung kasama niya which is lalaki, so hindi naman sa paga-ano, sa panja-
judge sa kanila, pero siyempre, natakot ako para sa sarili ko kasi ako na lang 'yung
nakasakay sa jeep. Gano'n.
I: Ano lang nangyari after no'n? Wala namang-
P: Ah, wala naman, wala naman. Bumaba ako nang safe, pero nagpasundo ako sa gate
which is 'di ko naman talaga ginagawa. Natakot lang ako no'n kasi nga mag-isa na lang
ako, gabi na.
Page No. 82
I: So uulitin lang naman responses mo na nagko-commute ka during school days which
are weekdays. Tapos, jeepney 'yung madalas mong ginagamit and, um, convenient ang
pagko-commute sa'yo if you're wearing, like, pants or jogging pants ta's mahirap siya
kapag naka-skirt or, like shorts kasi conscious ka at awkward ka kapag tumatabi ka sa
ibang boys kasi nga takot ka na baka may gawin sila or sabihin. And every time you step
foot on a public utility vehicle, iniisip mo kung sino 'yung tatabihan mo kasi nga ayaw
mong tumabi sa boys. Tapos, wala kang na-experience na ginawa ng other commuters
sa'yo, but mayroon kang, mayroon kang na-witness na ginagawa ng ibang commuters sa
mga girls na nagwe-wear ng shorts or skirt na hinahabol nila ng tingin and naiinis ka about
do'n. And, sinabi mo rin nga na, parang nag-admit ka na guilty ka na hindi ka nagte-take
action kasi nga takot ka rin na baka saktan or sigawan or sabihan ng kung ano-ano and
ayon [sic]. Sa factors na puwedeng maka-puwedeng naka-affect sa mga gano'n is 'yung
um, 'yung mga nababalitaan mo nga kung bakit ka, nababalitaan mo na nangyari sa girls
na nagko-commute and 'yun 'yung nagdala sa'yo na maging conscious or awkward kapag
nagko-commute ka.
Page No. 83

P: [coughs]
I: So, puwede na po ba tayong mag-start?
P: Okay.
I: Do you commute po?
P: Yes, I do.
I: How often do co-do you commute po in a week?
P: During, ay, five days para sa school, ta's kap-some-ano, minsan sa weekends kapag
kailangan kong umalis. Minsan (inaudible).
I: So, um, para sa school po, ibig sabihin po ang pinupuntahan niyo po 'pag nagko-
commute kayo is school to house and then, house to school po.
P: Yes.
I: Then, what type of public transportation po 'yung madalas niyong gamitin?
P: Jeep.
I: Jeepney. Eh, 'yung pagsasakay niyo po ng jeepney, is it difficult or convenient po para
sa inyo?
P: Convenient siya kasi, um, wala naman kaming, ano, sariling sasakyan, so kailangan
ko talagang mag-commute. Ngayon, nagiging mahirap siya, kapag halimbawa, 'pag
uwian, pagod ka na, o kaya kapos-kapag rush hour, traffic tapos ang init, siksikan. Ayon
[sic], 'yung mga gano'n.
I: Ah. What is on your mind po every time na sasakay kayo ng jeepney?
P: Um, lagi kong iniisip na dapat lagi akong maging cautious sa paligid ko, kailangan
maingat ako, kailangan 'yung tatabihan ko 'yung hindi mukhang ma-gagawa ng
masama, and, um, 'wag ako matulog. [laughs]
I: Cautious in what way po? Eh, paanong paraan na ano tsaka cautious ka saan?
P: Cautious, halimbawa, um, kasi, um, halim-halimbawa, medyo parang, um, pa'no ba
sabihin? Um, parang kahina-hinala 'yung, alam mo 'yon? Baka kasi dukutan ka,
nakawan ka ng cellphone, 'yung mga gano'n. 'Yon, so tatabi ako sa parang-actually,
kahit disente nga, minsan sila pa 'yung mangunguha, pero ayon [sic]. Tatabi ako, siguro
'yung sa kapwa ko babae para kasi 'di naman, 'yon, safe ako kasi hindi ako mahihipuan,
'yon, mga gano'n.
I: Okay po, so what are your experiences po in public transportation?
Page No. 84
P: Um, dahil ba sa, ano, sa-dahil sa body type ko, gano'n?
I: Kahit ano po.
P: Ito, kaya ako nag-agree kasi dito, kasi may gusto 'kong-kaya ako nag-agree sa study
na 'to kasi may gusto 'kong i-share. Ano, 'yung una, um, grade 11 pa 'ko nito. Um, sa,
parehas nangyari, may dalawa 'kong ikukuwento. So 'yun, 'yung dalawang 'yon, parehas
nangyari no'ng sa front seat ako ng jeep umupo. 'Yung una, um, sa front seat ako umupo
ta's may katabi akong lalaki, na parang, parang tatay ko na nga, parang gano'n nga eh.
Tapos, bumaba ako, bababa ako ng jeep, eh kasi siya 'yung nasa labas, so kailangan,
siya muna 'yung bumaba bago ako bumaba. Tapos, pagkababa ko, hinawakan niya ako
dito sa baywang ko which is hindi naman kailangan parang, pero para sa kanya, tulong.
Kailangan ko daw [sic] ng tulong. Hindi ko naman kailangan ng tulong, so, para sa'kin,
parang na-harass ako ng gano'ng way na-hindi na nga ako nakapagsalita, tapos after,
af-no'ng sumakay uli [sic] ako, tahimik na lang ako, kasi iniisip ko, "Nahipuan na ba 'ko?"
Parang 'yon. Pangalawa, ito, parang last week lang nangyari, sumakay ako sa jeep sa
(local mall), sa front seat din, kat- bali katabi ko 'yung driver, eh, may pinto 'yun. So,
isinara na 'yung, sinara 'yung pinto kahit hindi pa puno. 'Di ba dapat dalawa sa harapan?
Ta's naririnig ko 'yung dalawang driver nag-uusap, "Oh, ba't isinara mo na?" Ta's sabi
no'ng [sic] isa, ay, sabi no'ng [sic] isang driver, sabi, "Dalawa pa 'yun, ah? Gusto mo
siguro, ano, dalaga 'yung katabi mo, 'no?" Ta's nag-aasaran sila, "Ay, estudyante pala
gusto mo." Ganyan. So, parang rin-alam nilang rinig ko 'yon, pero 'di sila nahihiya.
Tapos, nakakainis lang. Tapos, ano, tapos parang gusto ko ng bumaba. 'Di ko alam
pero marami naman kasi 'yung tao, 'di ko na lang, 'di na lang ako gumawa ng eksena.
Tsaka, ano, ta's no'ng nagbayad pa ako ng pamasahe, tinanong pa ako kung nag-aaral
ba ako nang mabuti. So sana tanungin-nag-aaral-kayo ba, nag-aaral kayo nang mabuti?
[laughs]
I: 'Yung, ano, 'di ba, sabi mo, hinip-'yung parang, 'di ba sabi mo (inaudible), "Hinipuan na
ba 'ko?" Kasi hinawakan ka dito, after no'n, siyempre sabi mo nga, parang nainis ka,
ano 'yung ginawa mo? Eh, 'di ba sabi mo, hindi mo na rin, parang hindi mo na pinansin
kasi 'di ka na nakaimik. 'Yung, (inaudible) ano 'yung pumasok sa isip mo, after no'n, do'n
sa pagsakay mo sa unahan, kasi 'di ba naulit pa, kasi sumakay ka ulit sa unahan?
P: Um, kasi, iyon, iyon kasi, parang no'ng, 'di ako sure kung-ano pa 'yon eh, grade 11 pa
'ko. Meydo, parang 'di pa sobrang ma-wala pa 'kong masyadong, um, anong tawag 'yon
[sic], masyadong alam sa mga gano'ng bagay. Tapos, 'yon, parang no'ng part, time na
'yon, hindi ko alam kung ano ba, "Nahipuan na ba ako?" "Hipo ba ang tawag do'n or
wala lang talaga 'yon?" So, hindi ako sure, so tinag-umuupo pa rin ako sa front seat.
I: So, 'yung second mong na-experience, siyempre kung, siyempre kung ako din [sic],
parang kakabahan din ako, pero hinayaan mo na lang?
P: Mm-hm.
I: Parang, kasi-pero no'ng ano, bago umalis 'yung jeep, parang, may sumakay pa ba sa
tabi mo?
P: Oo, may sumakay naman.
Page No. 85
I: So, anong, parang, anong naisip mo 'non?
P: Inisip ko, "Buti na lang." Tsaka, ayon [sic]. 'Yon na 'yong, sa totoo lang, 'yon na 'yong
last time na sumakay, sumakay ako ng front seat. Ngayon, wala na talaga 'kong balak
kasi, parang, lahat ng [sic] nangyayari 'pag nakaupo ako doon eh, so doon na lang sa
loob sasakay.
I: Do you think po may mga factors kung bakit niyo na-experience 'yong mga gano'ng
bagay?
P: Sa tingin ko, ano, sa, sa-kasi no'ng una siisip [sic] ko, "Dahil ba sa uniform ko?" Kasi
ang ikli nga ng palda natin. Kaso, hindi eh. Hindi naman, 'di ba, hindi naman dapat
tinitingnan 'yong suot ng babae para igalang siya. Kaya sa tingin ko 'yong factor na
nakakaapekto kung ba't gano'n 'yong trato nila sa'kin is 'yong sarili nilang utak. Bakit
kailangan, bakit, 'yon, ba't kailangan nilang gawin, ba't gano'n? Bakit sila gano'n mag-
isip, bakit ang trato nila sa'tin ay parang objects, ganyan. Tsaka ayon, sana, sana may,
parang sana i-may i-sana i-properly educate 'yong mga tao na dapat hindi gano'n 'yong
tingin nila sa mga babae at sa lahat ng tao.
I: 'Yong sa gano'ng ano, sa gano'ng factor 'yong sa pananamit, 'di ba naiisip din natin na-
'yong iba ngang tao sinasabi na kasalanan kasi gano'n 'yong pananamit natin. 'Pag may
naririnig ka bang gano'n, pumapasok ba sa isip mo na, "Ay, sige, minsan-magsuot na
lang ako ng ganito para 'di ako masyadong-"
P: Ay, hindi. Hindi, eh kasi naniniwala ako na-bakit, ba't may mga gano'ng damit? Bakit-
kailangan-ay tsaka 'yon ay fashion. Tsaka hindi talaga kasalanan ng babae kung ba't
gano'n 'yong, bakit sila, I mean, hindi naman kailangan gano'n ang lalaki sa babae,
(inaudible) so kahit anong isuot ng babae, kung 'yong lalaki ay gano'n mag-isip, gano'n
talaga at mali sila do'n.
I: 'Yong safety mo sa, at sa mga gano'ng pangyayari, ano 'yong naiisip mo? Halimbawa
kung- siyempre gusto mong, kung ano 'yong gusto mong isuot. Halimbawa, naka-shorts
ka gano'n, gano'n. Hindi mo naiisip na, "Hala, baka dahil sa suot ko-"
P: Iyon lang. Ah, halimbawa, kapag, kapag gabi na, siyempre, kahit, kapag naka-short
[sic] ako ng gano'n, 'yon, nag-iingat ako ta's kunyari [sic] ano, 'pag, 'pag kaya kong
sumabay sa, kunyari [sic] kapatid ko, papasundo ako, gano'n. Kaya, iyon, parang,
parang pag-iingat na rin kasi hindi naman, ayon [sic]. [laughs]
I: Uulitin lang po namin 'yong responses niyo na nagko-commute po kayo, and five times
a week po kayo nagko-commute, and on weekends po nagko-commute kayo 'pag paalis
kayo.
P: 'Pag kailangan.
I: 'Pag kailangan and gumagamit po kayo ng-madalas niyo pong sakyan is jeepney, and,
um, mahirap po sa inyo 'yong commute kasi nga, ano nga po 'yong reason niyo?
P: Um, mainit, 'yon, traffic.
I: Ah, 'yon, kasi po mainit and traffic. Tapos, every time you step foot po on a public utility
vehicle, ang iniisip niyo po is kailangan niyo maging cautious, gano'n, kasi baka 'yong
Page No. 86
fellow commuters niyo ay may gawin sa inyo and kailangan niyo po piliin nang maayos
'yong tatabihan niyo. And 'yong experiences niyo po in public transportation, may na-
experience po kayo na sa front seat po kayo sumakay and hinawakan po kayo sa
baywang that commuter thinking na kailangan niy o ng help para makababa which is
not how you felt that time po. Tapos, 'yong sa pangalawang beses niyo, pangalawa niyo
pong experience sa front seat na parang may mga driver na pinag-uusapan po kayo
and na-relieve po kayo no'ng may tumabi sa inyo after some time. And right now po,
hindi na po kayo sumasakay sa front seat kasi po, parang feeling niyo, parang hindi po
kayo safe sa front seat or something. Tapos, you dealt with it, parang, hinahayaan [sic]
niyo na lang po, you stayed silent po ba, mga gano'n?
P: Kasi, takot ako, pero kung, siguro 'pag na-develop na 'yong ano, siguro, lalaban din
ako in the future.
I: Ah, yes po and factors po na puwedeng maka-affect sa gano'ng experiences is [sic]
that naisip niyo po sa la-pag-iisip na lang po talaga ng predators 'yon na gawan kayo ng
gano'n and every time na magdadamit po kayo, sinusuot niyo po 'yong gusto niyong
suotin, and ayon [sic]. Thank you po.
P: Thank you din [sic].
I: [reads consent form again]
Page No. 87
I: [reads consent form] Can we start na po?

P: Yes! Of course!
I: Um, nagcocommute po ba kayo?
P: Um, yes.
I: How often po sa isang linggo kayo mg-commute?
P: Uhm, ev-, five days, yung school days saka every Sunday, pumupunta, eh,
nagpupunta sa simbahan.
I: What type of public transportation po yung madalas ninyo pong gamitin?
P: Jeepney and tricycle.
I: Saan po kayo papunta?
P: Um 'pag nasakay ako ng jeepney saan ako papunta? Um, school, usually, oo, pauwi.
I: Tapos 'pag tricycle po?
P: Ayon, kasi, dalawang sakay yung ano, sa amin. Jeepney and tricycle.
I: Yung pagcocommute po? Mahirap po ba s'ya or madali para sa inyo?
P: Mahirap kasi 'di ako sanay na nagko-commute.
I: So, ibig sabihin po, mga, junior high school or elementary po (inaudible)
P: Mga, mga-, mga kalagitnaan na ng junior high na 'ko nagcocommute, nag-start mag-
commute eh, so 'di ako gano'n, kahit ngayon, 'di pa 'ko gano'n ka-ano, ka-okay mag
commute.
I: What is on your mind po every time na sasakay kayo ng jeepney or tricycle?
P: Kung sa'n ako uupo kasi minsan, depende sa suot, kasi mahirap kapag naka-palda,
umupo sa charity or 'pag ma-ano, masikip na yung sa jeep, mahirap maghanap ng
uupuan. Hindi ako kasya, gano'n. [laughs]
I: Bakit po mahirap 'pag sa charity?
P: Ano, kasi syempre, minsan mababa yung tricycle. Tapos, minsan yung mga kasabay
mo maraming dala. So parang minsan, ano, parang na-ooccupy rin nila yung space na
parang, sana, medyo maluluwagan ka, makakahinga ka do'n sa, pag upo mo do'n.
Gano'n
I: Um, what are your experiences in using public transportation po?
P: Ano, siguro yung gano'n, yung inconvenience 'pag inconsiderate yung mga kasabay
mo. Kasi siyempre kahit mada-, marami silang dala, ma-iisip nila na may iba ring
pasahero. Tas 'yon, ano ba, yung, one time, I think, 'yon, sumakay nga 'ko ng jeep, na,
Page No. 88
ano, si kuya, pasakay ng jeep. Bakit kailangang humawak sa, sa may tuhod ko para lang
maka-, makaakyat s'ya tapos do'n pa s'ya tumabi sa ano ko, tapos hindi niya pa agad ako
binitawan, tas tinititigan ko na s'ya no'n, tapos kung 'di ko pa ginalaw yung leg ko siguro
hindi na n'ya, napansin, 'yon. Tas nagsorry naman s'ya. Tas I-, I thought na parang okay,
nung time na 'yon kasi bata pa naman ako, I thought, parang 'pag nag-apologize yung
tao, kahit insincere, parang okay na lang din kasi at least nag-apologize s'ya, gano'n
I: No’ng hinawakan po ba kayo. (inaudible)
P: Kinabahan! Oo, sabi ko, ba-, parang siyempre, kung ikaw, kahit sino naman siguro,
parang 'pag nahawakan ka ng ibang tao, oo, na stranger na hindi mo naman kakilala,
parang kakabahan ka, an-, ano-, ano bang-, ano, parang hindi mo alam ano bang irereact
mo, kung, kung matatakot ka ma-aawkward ka or maiinis ka, gano'n.
I: Sa jeepney po may mga inconvenience po ba kayong nararanasan?
P: Hmm, oo minsan, kapag pa pinipilit na pagkasiyahin yung mga pasahero or kaya yung
mga, sobrang ano, 'yong mga nag mamadali ba, gano'n, na parang sila lang yung
pasahero do'n sa sinasakyan mo, gano'n.
I: So, how did you deal with those kind of experiences po?
P: Ano, hm, ano, 'pag masikip na, 'di, minsan 'pag rush hour 'di ba, 'di mo naman ma-,
mapipilit kahit kalahati na lang nh puwet ko 'yong naka-upo, tiis tiis ka na lang, tapos
makakarinig ka pa ng side comments na ang sikip naman. Tas, wala, dedma ka na lang
kasi pare-parehas naman kayong nagbayad ng pamasahe, bakit gano'n nang gano'n!
I: Hmm, do you think po may mga factors, kunwari po, kung bakit pinipilit na yung,
magsakay ng pasaheronsa jeep kahit na sikip na?
P: Eh, siyempre, siguro, hindi ko-, hindi naman natin pwede i-judge yung mga tao ng ano,
pero siyempre, yung ano, yung mga gano'ng driver, siguro gusto lang nilang kumita, and
hindi mo naman pwedeng ipagdamot 'yon sa kanila kasi hindi mo naman alam kung ano
'yong mga pangangailangan nila, gano'n. Malay mo they were really in need of something
and they were working hard for it tapos, parang, simpleng gano'n lang, yung gano'n.
I: Eh sa tricycle po na sinabi niyo, maraming dala or gamit? Bakit kaya pinipilit nila na-?
P: Ano, kasi minsan siyempre, pa'no 'pag 'sakto lang yung pera nila sa mga gano'ng
bagay. Siyempre, mahirap yung ano, yung, 'pag ano, magrereklamo ka eh pa'no kung
yung pambayad niya, parang, parang for a single person. Hindi niya kayang bayaran yung
buong tricycle para siya lang yung sumakay do'n. Kasi siyempre ngayon, yung, 'di ba,
anong tawag do'n? Yung 'pag tumataas na yung, ahh, transportation fare, oo ganon,
inflation. 'Di, wala, hindi ka naman makapagreklamo kasi, 'di, 'di sana, ikaw na lang
magbayad kung magrereklamo ko 'di ba? Parang gano'n.
I: Sa tingin niyo po, bakit po kaya kayo hinawakan ng isang stranger sa tuhod niyo?
P: Ala hindi ko rin alam eh! Kasi, sonrang sudden eh, parang, wala, parang, alam mo
yung feeling ko na-offend ako pero hindi ko na lang ma-ano, kasi siyempre bata pa 'ko
no'n, hindi ko pa, hindi ko pa masyado intindi kung anong dapat nirereact sa mga gano'n,
not until I was learn [sic] enough that it was okay to feel wrong about it. Kasi akala ko dati,
Page No. 89
parang ano, you have to be, ano 'yon, considerate ba, na baka kailangan niya lang
talaang sumakay pero iba naman kasi yung pag hawak eh, na 'yong, ba't 'di niya agad
ako binitawan gano'n. [Inaudible]
I: Ulitin ko lang po yung mga sinabi na, nagcocommute po kayo, five times a week.
Jeepney and tricycle po yung sinasakyan niyo and every sunday po nagcocommute kayo
para magpunta sa church. Tapos uhm, mahirap po magcommutebsa inyo kasi, parang,
in the middle of junior high lang po pinahcommute and, hanggang ngayon po hindi pa rin
po kayo sanay sa pagcommute. Tas na-experience niyo po uhm, ay ang nasa isip niyo
po pala every time na sasakay kayo is saan po kayo uupo or paano kayo uupo kasi iniisip
niyo po yung suot niyo, ganan po tas mga katabi niyo po. Tapos na-experience niyo po
sa tricycle yung kapag sa chatity seat na masikip tapos minsan po may mga taong
maraming dala. Tapos sa jeepney po, uhm, yung pinipilit pa rin pasakayin kahit, parang
half na lang ng puwet yung nagkakasya. Tapos may na-experience din po kayo sa
jeepney na, yung bata pa po kayo na, hinawakan po ulyung tuhod niyo bago siya umakyat
tapos, tapos, tumabi pa po siya sa inyo, tapos hinawakan pa rin, tapos po, not until na
parang nilayo niyo na po yung tuhod niyo taos nagsorry siya, so sa tingin niyo po okay
lang 'yon. Tapos sa tingin niyo pong yung mga factors na gano'n, sa tricycle po or sa
jeepney na pinipilit nilang, 'pag sumakay po kayo sa tricycle, uhm, yung mga may dala
po, siguro po, yung parang for one passenger lang po yung kaya niyang bayaran na
transportation fare. Tapos naman po sa jeepney, 'pag pinipilit ng driver or yung barker na
pasakayin kayo, siguro talaga, parang gipit sila and there's something that tjey really need
at kailangan nila ng pera para makuha 'yon. Tapos sa jeepney po na na-experience niyo
na hinawakan kayo sa tuhod is,hindi niyo rin po alam kung bakit, basta ang alam niyo
lang, parang kinabahan kayo or na-offend, gano'n. Tapos ayon po, sige po, thank you!
Page No. 90
The Lived Experiences of Women with Different Somatotypes in Public
Transportation: A Phenomenological Study
Guide Questions Codes Category Theme

 difficult  weather and External factors
because of the environmental caused women
heat conditions commuters to
 difficult  clothing experience
because if it is  lack of space difficulty in public
too hot, it gets transportation.
hard to breathe
 difficult
because of
lack of seats or
space
1. Is commuting
 difficult
difficult or
because of air
convenient for
pollution
you?
 convenient as
she has no
access to a
private vehicle
 difficult when
she is wearing
a skirt
 difficult when
she is asked to
take the charity
seat
Page No. 91
 convenient
when she is
wearing pants
 difficult as she
had a service
until junior high
 heat  environmental They prioritize
 the need to conditions their security.
cover up when  security
clothes reveal  avoid sleeping
some skin
 vacancy of
2. What is on
seats
your mind
 destination
every time you
 safety of her
step foot on a
belongings
public
 the need to be
transportation?
cautious of her
surroundings
 weather
 not to sit with a
man
 avoid sleeping
 harassment They are
 bumping
 revealing harassed,
3. What are your accidentally on
clothes attract objectified, and
experiences in a jeepney's
fellow unsafe.
public ceiling
commuters
transportation?  commuters
especially
leaning on her
males
Page No. 92
shoulder to  safety is at
sleep stake
 sensual looks
from other
commuters
 bus conductor
not giving her a
bus fare ticket
 middle aged
man asking for
number, email
address, and
Facebook
account
 sitting with only
a little part of
her butt on the
seat
 standing just
beside the bus
doors
 difficulty in
breathing
 muscle pain
 getting to sit
when she is
wearing a skirt
 commuters not
looking at her
anymore the
Page No. 93
way they did
when she was
less chubby
 read signs that
say curvier
people should
pay double the
fare
 forced to take
the charity seat
 commuter
intentionally
hitting his side
on her chest
 commuters'
eyes followed
the girls who
wore clothes
which revealed
skin
 being the only
woman in the
jeepney left at
night
 commuter
touched her
waist when she
was getting off
the front seat
Page No. 94
 drivers talked
about her
being the other
driver's type
 sat on the
charity seat
with another
commuter's
grocery boxes
in front of her
 commuter held
on to her knee
while getting
on the jeepney
and did not let
go
 commuter said
sorry when she
shoved his
hand off
 let middle-aged  fought  Some women
women  kept silent commuters
commuters  uncertain resisted, but
4. How did you
lean on her others
deal with or
shoulder tolerated
handle those
 shoved off men harassment
experiences?
commuters and
who lean on objectification.
her shoulder
Page No. 95
 felt discomfort
when men
commuters
lean on her
shoulder as
they might do
something bad
such as theft or
indecent
touching
 only let
commuters
look at her as
she does not
want to cause
a commotion
 ignored the
sensual looks
from other
commuters as
she is not
prepared to
confront them
yet
 thought that
looking
sensually at
others in
unnecessary
 felt that she is
the one
Page No. 96
responsible for
those sensual
looks
 witnessed
imposed
chivalry
 felt happy
when the bus
conductor did
not issue her a
ticket
 reminded the
bus conductor
of her ticket but
got ignored in
the end and did
not pay
 gave fake
personal
information to
the middle-
aged man as
she did not
want to be the
bad person
 laughed when
a man asked
for her
personal
information
Page No. 97
 got nervous
when a man
asked for her
personal
information
 got off the PUV
immediately
after she gave
fake personal
information as
she was afraid
the man would
ask for more
 hung on to the
handle of
jeepney with
both her hands
 used paper
bags to
regulate her
breathing
 thought that
the curvier you
are, the safer
you are on
PUVs
 not offended of
the signs which
talked about
curvier
passengers
Page No. 98
 raised her brow
at them
 looked at them
sharply
 cursing loudly
 asked a family
member to
fetch her which
she did not
usually do
 uncertain if she
was harassed
already or not
 shoved the
commuter's
hand on her
knee off
 felt nervous
when
commuter held
on to her knee
 forgave the
commuter who
held on to her
knee
 relieved when
there were two
of them on the
front seat (re:
Page No. 99
drivers talking
about her)
 exhaustion  clothing The treatment
 hidden agenda  physical of fellow
 clothes appearance commuters
 society's norms  patriarchy and toward women

misogyny commuters is
on women
5. Do you think  physical influenced by
there are appearance the women’s
factors that  body type clothing and
may have  men's libido physical

appearance,
affected how  patriarchy in
other society’s
society
norms on
commuters  the commuters'
treat you in women, and
and drivers'
public its internalized
way of thinking
sexism.
transportation?  other
If you do, what commuter's
are those? budget
 drivers’ financial
needs
 needed help to
get on the
jeepney
Page No. 100

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The Lived Experiences of Women With Different Somatotypes On Public Transportation: A Phenomenological Study

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The Lived Experiences of Women With Different Somatotypes On Public Transportation: A Phenomenological Study

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THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN WITH DIFFERENT SOMATOTYPES ON

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY

Combate, Caitlyn Guia C.

Paz, Bea Nadine Y.

Reyes, Lhea Angelic A.

Torres, Francine Gem

This qualitative phenomenological study focuses on the experiences of women ranging

The researchers would like to express their gratitude to:

which had made it what it was at present;

honest answers, and for being more than willing to participate;

throughout the process of the study;

The researchers’ classmates, who provided a productive and happy atmosphere

the accomplishment of this study.

Background of the Study 7

Significance of the Study 9

Scope and Delimitation 10

2 REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 11

Women: History, Roles, and Experiences 12

Somatotype: Origin, Definition, Typologies, and Measurement 18

Proposed Original Model 22

Participants of the Study 23

Data Gathering Procedure 24

4 ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION 27

Experiences of Women with Different Somatotype on Public Transportation 32

Dealing with These Public Transportation Experiences 40

Factors Affecting These Public Transportation Experiences 44

5 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 50

Figure 1. Lived Experiences of Women with Different 22

Somatotypes on Public Transportation

Figure 2. Participant 1: Endomorph 27

Figure 3. Participant 2: Mesomorph 28

Figure 4. Participant 3: Ectomorph 28

Figure 5. Participant 4: Mesomorph 29

Figure 6. Participant 5: Endomorph 29

Figure 7. Participant 6: Ectomorph 30

Figure 8. Participant 7: Endomorph 30

Figure 9. Participant 8: Ectomorph 31

Figure 10. Participant 9: Mesomorph 31

Background of the Study

Transportation systems aid the people in reaching their everyday destinations.

disability, and the elderly. (“Public Transportation System,” 2016).

However, according to Kalms and Korsmeyer (2017), gender makes a world of

In the survey conducted by Social Weather Stations as part of UN Women’s Safe

have experienced sexual harassment in their lifetime. Furthermore, “these circumstances

rubbing or touching, catcalling, indecent gestures, exhibitionism, and public masturbation,

sending of pornographic pictures or videos, and cyberviolence.” (Cabral, 2016).

psychologist William H. Sheldon. In his system, people can be classified as endomorphic,

and ectomorphic, who are slender and fine-boned.

This system created by Sheldon is used in associating physiology with psychology.

Pakistan. Moreover, somatotype can be measured through anthropometry that

are anthropometrical and may sometimes be used in correspondence with photos

This study aims to:

1. Describe the experiences of women with different body types on public

2. Explain how women of different somatotypes deal with their experiences on

4. Determine if there is a difference between the experiences of women with

Significance of the Study

To the institution, this study may be a helping hand in promoting programs or

To the Philippines’ House of Representatives and Office of the President, this

towards Filipino women. (Elemia, C., 2018).

be more capable as researchers of the 21st century.

in terms of the experiences of women with different somatotypes in public transportation.

Scope and Delimitation

the Philippines-Laguna with different somatotypes in public transportation. It discusses